Over the years, one thing that continually strikes me about Sophie's Choice is how often I hear that it is used as a teaching device in film study classes. The reason I perk up my ears when I hear of this is simple -- I too studied it in when I was in Grade 12. It makes sense; the film is beautifully photographed, excellently acted, and tells a moving story.
Meryl Streep plays the title role in what is probably the finest performance of her career. Her character is supposed to know several languages, and you can actually see Sophie Zawistowska mentally translating from language to language in different scenes. The movie begins as Stingo (Peter MacNicol) moves to Brooklyn and meets Sophie and her Jewish boyfriend Nathan (Kevin Kline). They become friends, but it is soon obvious that the young couple has a few secrets yet to be revealed. Eventually, Stingo discovers Nathan suffers from mental delusions and Sophie is a Polish concentration camp survivor from Auschwitz. Through a series of flashbacks, we eventually see what the film's title actually alludes to. The climactic final flashback scene is one of the most riveting you'll ever see.
Sophie's Choice is written and directed by Alan J. Pakula, who passed away recently. In each scene, his approach to the subject matter is tasteful and delicate, always implying innocence then gradually introducing darker elements to complete the tone of the screenplay. His source material is William Styron's novel, which apparently focussed a lot more on the Sophie and Nathan's primal urges. Here, Pakula only alludes to it, a far wiser decision, making their complicated relationship more cerebral and spiritual. I was surprised to see the tender, beautiful score is composed by Marvin Hamlisch, who is best known for "The Entertainer".
The film's real heart rests primarily on Streep's shoulders, and I can think of no other actress who could have pulled the part off. The viewer is instantly drawn to her eyes and her face, always trying to discern what she may be hiding, alluding to, or trying to convey. Her flashback scenes when she is employed as a secretary for a German officer are unsettling on first viewing, but perhaps even more unsettling on second viewing, once the film's conclusion is no longer a mystery -- her actions seem even more tragic yet courageous.
There are many films about the Second World War, but few of them imply the atrocities -- they usually show the gore and violence for dramatic impact. Sophie's Choice is sadly affecting because the traumas it implies are just as disturbing; perhaps even more so.
