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Out of Africa

  • 1985
  • PG
  • 2h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
90K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,558
461
Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa (1985)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:58
2 Videos
97 Photos
EpicPeriod DramaRomantic EpicBiographyDramaRomance

In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.

  • Director
    • Sydney Pollack
  • Writers
    • Karen Blixen
    • Judith Thurman
    • Errol Trzebinski
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Robert Redford
    • Klaus Maria Brandauer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    90K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,558
    461
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Karen Blixen
      • Judith Thurman
      • Errol Trzebinski
    • Stars
      • Meryl Streep
      • Robert Redford
      • Klaus Maria Brandauer
    • 293User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 7 Oscars
      • 30 wins & 31 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:58
    Official Trailer
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Clip 5:10
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
    Clip 5:10
    Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona

    Photos97

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    + 91
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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Karen
    Robert Redford
    Robert Redford
    • Denys
    Klaus Maria Brandauer
    Klaus Maria Brandauer
    • Bror
    Michael Kitchen
    Michael Kitchen
    • Berkeley
    Malick Bowens
    Malick Bowens
    • Farah
    Joseph Thiaka
    • Kamante
    Stephen Kinyanjui
    • Kinanjui
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Delamere
    Suzanna Hamilton
    Suzanna Hamilton
    • Felicity
    Rachel Kempson
    Rachel Kempson
    • Lady Belfield
    Graham Crowden
    Graham Crowden
    • Lord Belfield
    Leslie Phillips
    Leslie Phillips
    • Sir Joseph
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • Belknap
    Mike Bugara
    • Juma
    Job Seda
    • Kanuthia
    Mohammed Umar
    • Ismail
    Donal McCann
    Donal McCann
    • Doctor
    Kenneth Mason
    • Banker
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Karen Blixen
      • Judith Thurman
      • Errol Trzebinski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews293

    7.190.3K
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    Featured reviews

    sclub28

    Beautiful

    I had heard of this film quite alot but had never seen it. Today I did and was amazed. It is based on the life of a danish female author who moves to Africa. Meryl Streep is exellent as the lead role and keeps a believable danish accent all the way through the film. Robert Redford is also excellent as. But of course the best feature of this film is the beautiful African scnery. It captivates the viewer and I think even if the acting was poor the scenery would still make you like the film. I cannot think of any other film I have seen that has matched this one. I recommened it to anyone. This truly is a touching, marvellous film
    drednm

    Superb Meryl Streep's Best Performance

    Wonderful film. Great in every detail. Director Sydney Pollack captures every nuance of time and place, and the cast is perfection. Meryl Streep is a total wonder as the Danish woman who goes to Africa to find a life but learns about love instead. Robert Redford was much maligned when this film was released in 1985 but now seems quite fine. Michael Kitchen, Rachel Kempson, Suzanna Hamilton, and Michael Gough are all good. John Barry's beautiful score is among the best in film history: a perfect melding of times past and wistfulness and love. Gorgeous African vistas serve as a backdrop for the love story between Streep and Redford, playing real-life characters Isaak Dineson and Dennis Finch-Hatton. But this is not just a movie romance. It's a story about loss: the loss of love, the loss on innocence, the loss beauty. And it's all symbolized by the loss of Africa. War, mechanization, imperialism, westernization, progress are the evils of the early 19th century just as they are today. But the heart of this film is Meryl Streep's flawless performance. She is a wonder.
    8amhealy

    Excellently made, Streep wonderful, Redford miscast

    Fifty years ago I was living in the Kenya highlands, only a few miles from the old Blixen farm. Not a great deal had changed since the 1920s, the period of the movie, which manages a reasonable re-creation. However, the background is unlikely to mean much to Americans, only confirming unreal stereotypes of the colonial British. Meryl Steep, as we have come to expect, is superb in the part; and in 2003 she co-narrated a wonderful documentary on the remarkable Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen), to whom in fact she bears some physical resemblance. Robert Redford is badly miscast, and why the producers didn't get one of many superb English actors for the part I can't imagine. As a love story well told in what to most people will be an exotic setting, beautifully photographed, it should be highly rated, justifying its many awards.
    Kirpianuscus

    surprising

    a film with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford could not be more than a good one. the African landscapes, the music, the cast are virtues in same measure. but the real surprise is the wise balance between emotions, love story, decisions of the lead characters. the science to use a book for explore the nuances of a form of survive far to well- known places. the precise - delicate portrait of relationship and about the status/roots in a different society. and, sure, the high poetry of images - parts of inspired music. a film for remind and discover. small, seductive, bitter details. and for understand a part from a non ordinary biography. more than a good film, a surprising one. for a kind of magic who rebuild a lost form of romanticism and adventure.
    sexyrebl

    I had a farm in Africa

    What a memorable gem of a movie!! I thought this film deserved every one of its seven Academy Awards it got. After viewing this film again I'm just stupefied why didn't Meryl Streep win Best Actress in this movie. The role of Karen Blixen was very complex and she performed it beautifully. This is probably right up there with "Sophie's Choice" and "Kramer vs. Kramer" both Award winning performances for her and this is right there with "Bridges of Madison County" and "A Cry in the Dark".

    Syndey Pollock hit the nail right on the head with this classic beautiful cinematography. The acting is excellent by Streep, Redford, and Klaus Maria Brandeur. I liked the scene when Karen (Streep) wants her servant to address her by her name and he said "You are Karen, Sabu". I also loved the owl that she had in her room - it was a small one, but it was so cute and I loved it.

    If you have a chance to rent this movie, please do - it is a classic. I love the beginning line "I had a farm in Africa" it was so moving!!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Early in the film, Baroness Karen Blixen is introduced to her servants. Although the scene is inter-cut with close-ups and other inserts in the film, the first take was filmed as one long shot that required Meryl Streep to meet and exchange dialogue with several other characters. As soon as director Sydney Pollack yelled "Cut", Streep, wearing a high-collared shirt and snug jacket, yelled "get this thing off of me!" and ripped open her jacket. A large beetle had crawled down the front of the jacket moments after the camera rolled, yet she continued filming the scene. Much of it remains in the final film.
    • Goofs
      During the lion attack, Denys pulls an additional two spare cartridges from his belt as a ready reload. However, he carries them with his right hand, his trigger hand, which also is the hand needed to break the action to reload. No experienced double-gun hunter would do this. The two reload cartridges must be carried in the left hand, leaving the right hand free to manipulate the rifle.
    • Quotes

      Karen Blixen: It's an odd feeling, farewell. There is such envy in it. Men go off to be tested, for courage. And if we're tested at all, it's for patience, for doing without, for how well we can endure loneliness.

    • Crazy credits
      Epilogue:  "Karen Blixen published her first stories in 1934 under the name Isak Dinesen.   She never returned to Africa."
    • Alternate versions
      Network TV version features additional footage not included in theatrical release.
    • Connections
      Edited into A Song of Africa (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Concerto for clarinet and orchestra in A (K.622)
      Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performed by Jack Brymer Clarinet, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

      Directed by Neville Marriner

      Used Courtesy of Philips Classic Productions, The Netherlands

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 20, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Swahili
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • África mía
    • Filming locations
      • Shaba National Game Reserve, Kenya
    • Production company
      • Mirage Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $87,071,205
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,637,290
      • Dec 22, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $227,514,205
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 41m(161 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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