Not for the first time I felt cheated by a supposed-to-be moving story of love and loss since there had been a lot of films who had done the treachery. Especially if one of those film had amassed seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, and starred two of Hollywood's star-power. Out Of Africa, is for instance, a great film with breathtaking cinematography, one that's a landmark back in the good 'ol 80's, and dazzles an epic scope of love story against lush landscapes but instead of moving us at the end of the film - well, it left me motionless.

Based on the true story of Karen Blixen (an intentionally good performance by Meryl Streep), a strong-willed woman who married his lover's brother due to his former lover's total indifference, and moved to Kenya, Africa whom she always insist "I had a farm in Africa" over and over again. She became a Baronness since she married a Baron, but notwithstanding, instead of feeling free in Africa, she still felt imprisoned by the life she chose to live with her philandering husband. She takes care of a coffee plantation and became a social friend to the local tribes, and peerless amongst the foreigners that settled in the place. Until she discovers that she was falling in love with Africa, the people, the tribes, the lands and most of all, the mysterious hunter Denys (Robert Redford).

No doubt, this is one of cinema's gorgeous-looking epic romances, using the verdant exotic sceneries and the wildlife of Africa as a medium to tell the story of Blixen, her causal life and her misgivings and misfortune. But if you would compare the landscapes to Meryl Streep and Robert Redford's performances and chemistry in the screen, the beauty of Africa is no match for them. It's the burning power of these two actors that make this film a wonderful watch, sidestepping the flaws of the film because if you try to deconstruct while watching the film, it's overly long and a bit tedious at times. Old age people might find this a really introspective love story of the decade but younger audiences would surely fall asleep and snore out of their senses.

Director Sydney Pollack knew his material and served it with dignity and pride, and probably went through an arduous process to bring this film to the screen. Anyway, he proves he's a skillful director and knows how to squeeze magnificent acting from his actors.

Out Of Africa is bound to be a superbly great film, but through the tortuous road it travels, it stumbles a bit. But thanks to Streep and Redford's presence, they saved the fall. It's a good story about founding love in such unexpected places in the world, and the loss of such priceless treasure of the hearts. It's an epic motion picture, but instead of being moved at the end, there's this hanging-at-the-edge feeling. Otherwise, it's a gorgeous picture.


Rating: B+