Watch Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice is a heartbreaking drama film released in 1982, directed by Alan J. Pakula and based on the book with the same name by William Styron. The film stars Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol in lead roles. The movie begins in the present day, with a young aspiring writer named Stingo (MacNicol) moving to Brooklyn to pursue his writing dreams. There, he befriends Sophie (Streep), a Polish immigrant who lives in the room next to his in a boarding house. Stingo is immediately drawn to Sophie's beauty, but he is even more intrigued by her mysterious nature.

Through a series of conversations, Sophie shares bits and pieces of her life story with Stingo. She reveals that she was a Polish Catholic and that she lived with her family in Krakow during World War II. The Nazis invaded her country, and Sophie was imprisoned in a concentration camp along with her two children.

Sophie's story takes a tragic turn when she is forced to make a life-altering decision as one of the prisoners in the camp. When a Nazi officer named Wanda Korchinski (Kline) enters Sophie's life, she agrees to become his mistress, hoping to save herself and her children from the horrors of the concentration camp. However, Korchinski forces Sophie to make an impossible decision, one that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

The movie takes the viewer through Sophie's struggles and guilt-ridden memories of the past. She is torn between the love she had for her children and the desperation to save them. Sophie's Choice is a story that explores the consequences of war on individuals, the atrocities committed on innocent lives, and the profound impact it has on the human psyche.

Meryl Streep's performance as Sophie is undoubtedly the highlight of the movie. Her portrayal of a woman carrying the burden of her past trauma is both chilling and heart-wrenching. She received widespread critical acclaim for her role and won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance.

Kevin Kline's portrayal of the manipulative Nazi officer is also noteworthy. He played the character with such conviction that it's hard not to feel the anger and hatred towards Korchinski.

The cinematography of the movie is another aspect that stands out. Pakula captures the essence of Brooklyn of the 1940s and the city's cultural diversity beautifully. The scenes set in the concentration camp are shot in black and white, adding to the overall somber tone of the movie.

The movie's musical score adds depth to the scenes, highlighting the emotional content of the story. The haunting melody of the movie's theme music, composed by Marvin Hamlisch, is unforgettable.

Sophie's Choice is an emotionally charged movie that explores the conflict between love and survival. It's a movie that stays with you long after it ends, forcing you to ponder the frailty of the human condition. The movie is a generous blend of the actors' quality performance, the beautifully written script, and the perfect direction. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an unforgettable story that touches one's soul.

Sophie's Choice is a 1982 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 68.