Dreaming of Africa

It is interesting to have such a singular vision towards something, almost glamourized, through art. Of everything I have seen or read about Africa, it seems that there are similar sentiments boasting of its quality of light, the vibrancy of its colors, and the wildness of the people as well as the landscape.

Sydney Pollack's OUT OF AFRICA reminds me of why I love movies like THE ENGLISH PATIENT so much, where dialogue is slightly inscrutable and almost esoteric to anyone who didn't know the characters well enough. Its probably the way we speak when we really know someone beyond cordialty.

Karen Blixen enters into a marraige of convenience to gain the title of Baroness. She moves to Africa with her Baron, in hopes of raising cattle in Kenya and making beaucoup bucks. Soon, her husband becomes every manifestation of scoundrel possible. In the meantime, she befriends rakish, free-spirited Denys (Robert Redford - who doesn't do much, but is good anyway), and falls in love with him. Despite her independence, she soon sees that she yearns to have a husband in Denys, who refuses to take away her freedom by marrying her.

Hm. That last point is very interesting. How we love someone is not necessarily the way they need to be loved. And yet if we change the way we love someone in order to prove our love to them, is that love?

Anyways. The film is another cinematic gesture which reminds me of hwo much I love the power of movies. There's a strong element of romance in the film and it is epic and worthy, if only on the face of Meryl Streep who is so marvelous.