Out of Africa

Jenseits von Africa
After an unfulfilling relationship, Karen Dinesen leaves Denmark for Kenya in 1913, where she marries her lover’s brother, Baron Bror von Blixen. While her husband pursues game-hunting adventures and love affairs, Karen is forced to take on managing their coffee plantation. Living among the English colonials and local servants, the big game hunter Denys Hatton becomes her only real confidant. Back in Kenya after a trip back to Denmark, where she undergoes a cure for syphilis during World War I, she starts an affair with Hatton. But this relationship, too, is destined not to end well ... For her costume design, Milena Canonero took her cues from archival photos of Karen Blixen, and from traditional African fabrics and patterns. The clothing in the film is a key signal for the heroine’s integration and greater freedom of action in the foreign land. While Karen soon drapes an African throw over the shoulders of her tropical outfits, her “house boy” serves drinks wearing white gloves; and when she has the wounds of an almost naked young man attended to, he thanks her by donning a khaki army uniform.
by Sydney Pollack
with Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Michael Kitchen, Malick Bowens
United Kingdom / USA 1985 English 161’ Colour Rating R12

With

  • Meryl Streep
  • Robert Redford
  • Klaus Maria Brandauer
  • Michael Kitchen
  • Malick Bowens

Crew

Director Sydney Pollack
Screenplay Kurt Luedtke based on the novel “Out of Africa” (1937) and scripts by Isak Dinesen, “Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller” (1982) by Judith Thurman, “Silence Will Speak” (1977) by Errol Trzebinski
Cinematography David Watkin
Editing Fredric Steinkamp, William Steinkamp, Pembroke Herring, Sheldon Kahn
Music John Barry
Sound Peter Handford
Production Design Stephen Grimes
Art Director Colin Grimes, Cliff Robinson, Herbert Westbrook
Costumes Milena Canonero
Make-Up Mary Hillman
Producer Sydney Pollack

Produced by

Mirage Enterprises/Universal Pictures, Ltd.

Additional information

DCP: NBCUniversal, Universal City, CA