Editing Out of Africa (film)

{{Short description|1985 film by Sydney Pollack}}
{{About||the migration of humans to other continents|Recent African origin of modern humans|the 1937 memoir by Danish author Karen Blixen|Out of Africa{{!}}''Out of Africa''|other uses|Out of Africa (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = Out of Africa
| image          = Out_of_Africa_(1985).jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Sydney Pollack]]
| producer       = Sydney Pollack<br />[[Kim Jorgensen]]
| based_on       = {{plainlist|
* {{based on|''[[Out of Africa]]''<br>1937 novel|[[Isak Dinesen]]}}
* {{based on|''Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Story Teller''<br>1982 story|[[Judith Thurman]]}}
* {{based on|''Silence Will Speak''<br>1977 novel|[[Errol Trzebinski]]}}
}}
| screenplay     = [[Kurt Luedtke]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Robert Redford]]
* [[Meryl Streep]]
* [[Klaus Maria Brandauer]]
}}
| music          = [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]]
| cinematography = [[David Watkin (cinematographer)|David Watkin]]
| editing        = [[Fredric Steinkamp]]<br />[[William Steinkamp]]<br />[[Pembroke Herring]]<br />[[Sheldon Kahn]]<!--ordering of names is from Oscar nomination-->
| studio         = [[Mirage Enterprises]]
| distributor    = [[Universal Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|1985|12|18}}
| runtime        = 161 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English<br />Swahili
| budget         = $31 million<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |title=At the Movies |date=November 29, 1985 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/29/movies/at-the-movies.html |access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref>
| gross          = $227.5 million<ref name=mojo>{{mojo title|outofafrica|Out of Africa}}</ref>}}

'''''Out of Africa''''' is a 1985 American [[Epic film|epic]] [[Romance film|romantic]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed and produced by [[Sydney Pollack]], and starring [[Meryl Streep]] and [[Robert Redford]]. The film is based loosely on the 1937 autobiographical book ''[[Out of Africa]]'' written by [[Karen Blixen|Isak Dinesen]] (the pseudonym of Danish author [[Karen Blixen]]), with additional material from Dinesen's 1960 book ''Shadows on the Grass'' and other sources.

The book was [[Film adaptation|adapted into a screenplay]] by [[Kurt Luedtke]], and this screenplay was filmed in 1984. Streep played Karen Blixen, Redford played [[Denys Finch Hatton]], and [[Klaus Maria Brandauer]] played Baron [[Bror von Blixen-Finecke|Bror Blixen]]. Others in the film include [[Michael Kitchen]] as Berkeley Cole, Malick Bowens as Farah, Stephen Kinyanjui as the Chief, [[Michael Gough]] as [[Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere|Lord Delamere]], [[Suzanna Hamilton]] as Felicity, and the model and actress [[Iman (model)|Iman]] as Mariammo. The film received generally positive reviews from critics. It was also a commercial success and won seven [[Academy Awards]] including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for Pollack.

==Plot==
In 1913, after being rejected by a Swedish nobleman, Danish aristocrat Karen Blixen proposes a marriage of convenience to his brother, Baron [[Bror von Blixen-Finecke|Bror Blixen]]. They plan to move to [[Nairobi]], [[East Africa Protectorate|British East Africa]], where Bror intends to use Karen's money to establish a dairy farm. She will join him a few months later, at which time they will marry. En route to Nairobi, Karen's train is hailed by [[big-game hunter]] [[Denys Finch Hatton]], who knows Bror and entrusts her with his ivory haul.

Farah, the [[Somalis|Somali]] headman Bror hired, greets Karen at the railway station. She is taken to the [[Muthaiga Country Club|Muthaiga Club]]. She enters the men-only salon seeking her husband but is asked to leave. Karen and Bror immediately marry, and she becomes Baroness Blixen.

Karen learns that Bror has changed their plan and instead bought a coffee farm, but it is at too high an elevation to be very productive. Karen needs Bror's help managing the farm, but he is more interested in guiding big-game hunting safaris.

Karen comes to love Africa and its people. She looks after the [[Kikuyu people]] who live on her land, establishes a school for them, helps with their medical needs, and arbitrates their disputes. Meanwhile, she attempts to build a formal European homelife equal to other nearby upper-class colonists. She befriends a young woman, Felicity (whose character is based on a young [[Beryl Markham]]). Eventually, Karen and Bror's mutual feelings deepen, and they consummate their marriage. However, Bror continues pursuing other women. To fill her evenings, Karen makes up imaginative stories to entertain visitors.

As [[World War I]] reaches East Africa, the colonists form a [[militia]] led by colonial [[patriarch]] [[Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere|Lord Delamere]], which also includes Denys and Bror. A military expedition searches for forces from the neighboring German colony of [[German East Africa]]. Responding to the militia's need for supplies, Karen leads a difficult expedition to find them and returns safely.

When Karen contracts [[syphilis]] from Bror, she returns to Denmark for treatment and recuperation while Bror manages the farm in her absence. Bror resumes his safari work upon Karen's return. They live separately after she discovers that he is still a philanderer and divorce when Bror expresses his desire to marry another woman. 

The relationship between Karen and Denys develops after an ambivalent kiss at a New Year's party, with Denys ultimately moving in with her. Denys acquires a [[de Havilland DH.60 Moth|Gipsy Moth]] [[biplane]] and often takes Karen flying. Karen wants Denys to solidify their relationship, though he prefers his autonomy. When Karen learns Denys is taking Felicity on a private safari, she confronts him about his refusing to be monogamous. He assures Karen he only wants her, but feels marriage is immaterial. This eventually drives them apart, and refusing to meet Karen's ultimatum not to take Felicity flying, he moves out.

The farm eventually yields a good harvest, but a fire destroys it and the factory, forcing Karen to sell out. Before leaving [[Kenya Colony|Kenya]] for Denmark, she appeals to the incoming governor to provide land for her Kikuyu workers and sells most of her remaining possessions at a [[rummage sale]]. Denys visits the now-empty house. He says he no longer feels comfortable being alone and that his feelings for her have changed. He asks to join her on her journey back.

Denys leaves for a safari scouting trip, promising to fly Karen to [[Mombasa]] when he returns. Shortly after, Bror arrives to inform Karen that Denys' plane has crashed in [[Tsavo]]. Karen organizes his funeral, during which she recites an excerpt from an [[A. E. Housman]] poem about a celebrated athlete who, like Denys, died young and was not destined to decline into old age.

Before departing, Karen visits the Muthaiga Club to arrange for the forwarding of her mail. The members, having come to admire her, invite her into the men-only salon for a toast. Karen gives Farah a compass that Denys had given her and asks him to say her name so that she can hear his voice one last time. Sometime later, Farah writes to Karen, informing her that a pair of lions frequently visits Denys's grave.

A textual epilogue reveals that Karen became an author, publishing her works under the name Isak Dinesen, and never returned to Africa.

==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Robert Redford]] as [[Denys Finch Hatton]]
* [[Meryl Streep]] as [[Karen Blixen]]
* [[Klaus Maria Brandauer]] as [[Bror von Blixen-Finecke|Bror]] and [[Hans von Blixen-Finecke]]
* [[Michael Kitchen]] as [[Reginald Berkeley Cole|Berkeley Cole]]
* [[Shane Rimmer]] as Belknap
* Malick Bowens as Farah Aden
* Joseph Thiaka as Kamante
* Stephen Kinyanjui as Chief Kinanjui
* [[Michael Gough]] as [[Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere|Hugh Cholmondeley, Lord Delamere]]
* [[Suzanna Hamilton]] as Felicity Spurway
* [[Rachel Kempson]] as Sarah, Lady Belfield
* [[Graham Crowden]] as Henry, Lord Belfield
* [[Leslie Phillips]] as [[Joseph Aloysius Byrne|Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne]]
* [[Annabel Maule]] as Lady Byrne
* [[Donal McCann]] as Doctor in Nairobi
* [[Benny Young]] as Minister
* [[Iman (model)|Iman]] as Mariammo
* [[Job Seda]] as Kanuthia
}}

==Production==
The film tells the story as a series of six loosely coupled episodes from Karen's life, intercut with her narration. The final two narrations, the first a reflection on Karen's experiences in Kenya and the second a description of Finch Hatton's grave, were taken from her book ''[[Out of Africa]]'', while the others were written for the film in imitation of her very lyrical writing style. The pace of this film is often rather slow, reflecting Blixen's book, "Natives dislike speed, as we dislike noise..."<ref>''[[Out of Africa]]'', p. 252</ref>

[[Klaus Maria Brandauer]] was director Sydney Pollack's only choice for Bror Blixen, even having trouble to pick a replacement when it appeared that Brandauer's schedule would prevent him from participating. [[Robert Redford]] became Finch Hatton, with Pollack thinking Redford had a charm no British actor could convey. [[Meryl Streep]] landed the part by showing up for her meeting with the director wearing a low-cut blouse and a [[push-up bra]], as Pollack had originally thought the actress did not have enough sex appeal for the role.<ref>"Song of Africa", ''Out of Africa'' DVD</ref> Before it went to Meryl Streep, the role of Karen Blixen was offered to [[Audrey Hepburn]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-14 |title=Anna Cataldi {{!}} Out of Africa |url=https://www.beautifulhumans.info/anna-cataldi/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Beautiful Humans |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Out of Africa'' was filmed using descendants of several people of the Kikuyu tribe who are named in the book, including the grandson of chief Kinyanjui who played his grandfather. Much of it was filmed in the [[Karen, Kenya|Karen]] / [[Lang'ata]] area near the actual [[Ngong Hills]] outside Nairobi. The [[Chyulu Hills]] stood in for the less picturesque Ngong Hills. As Karen's farmhouse was at the time of filming a part of a local nursing school, the filming took place in her nearby first house "Mbogani", which is a dairy today. Her actual house, known as "Mbagathi" is now the [[Karen Blixen Museum, Kenya|Karen Blixen Museum]]. A substantial part of the filming took place in the Scott house and in a recreation of 1910s Nairobi built in an area of unoccupied land in Langata.

The scenes depicting the [[Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth|Government House]] were shot at [[Nairobi School]] with the administration block providing a close replica of British colonial governors' residences.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The thinking behind Nairobi's grand schools|url = http://www.nation.co.ke/Features/DN2/The-thinking-behind-Nairobis--grand-schools-/-/957860/1625562/-/128vpwfz/-/index.html|website = www.nation.co.ke|access-date = 2015-11-05}}</ref> The train sequences were filmed along a section of abandoned track between Gilgil and Thompsons Falls some {{convert|97|km|abbr=on}} north west of Nairobi. The steam locomotive, taken from display in the Nairobi Railway Museum was non functional, therefore a diesel locomotive was hidden inside a box car behind the steam locomotive and the diesel pushed the train along while steam and smoke effects were provided.  The scenes set in [[Denmark]] were actually filmed in [[Surrey]], [[England]].

==Historical differences==
While ''Out of Africa'' is based on [[Karen Blixen]]'s memoir of the same name, the film takes several creative liberties, incorporating elements from other sources and omitting or altering aspects of Blixen's life and experiences in [[Kenya]].

The film opens with the line, "I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills," directly quoting the beginning of Blixen's book.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dinesen |first1=Isak |url=https://archive.org/embed/outofafrica0000dine |title=Out of Africa |date=1938 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |page=3}}</ref> Additionally, Karen recites, "He prayeth well, who loveth well both man and bird and beast," from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's ''[[The Rime of the Ancient Mariner]]'', which becomes the epitaph on Denys Finch Hatton's grave marker.

However, the film omits significant events from Blixen's memoir, such as a devastating locust swarm, local shootings, and her detailed accounts of the German army's activities during [[World War I]]. The portrayal of her farm is also minimized; in reality, Blixen managed a 6,000-acre coffee plantation employing around 800 [[Kikuyu people|Kikuyu]] workers and utilizing an 18-oxen wagon. The film simplifies this by depicting a smaller operation with fewer workers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Coleridge |first1=Samuel Taylor |url=https://archive.org/details/poeticalworksst02colegoog |title=The poetical works of S.T. Coleridge [microform] : including the dramas of Wallenstein, Remorse, and Zapola. In Three Volumes. Vol. II: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner. In Seven Parts. |date=1828 |publisher=William Pickering |location=London |pages=37}}</ref>

Regarding her personal life, the film shows Karen owning only one dog, whereas she actually had two Scottish deerhounds named Dawn and Dusk, gifted to her as a wedding present. The romantic relationship between Karen and [[Denys Finch Hatton|Denys]] is also altered; they met at the Muthaiga Club in [[Nairobi]], not in the plains as depicted. Denys was absent from Kenya for two years due to military service in [[Egypt]], a detail omitted from the film. Furthermore, while the film suggests a continuous romance, historical accounts indicate that Karen experienced at least one [[miscarriage]] during their relationship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kundu |first=Tamal |date=2021-08-20 |title=Is Out of Africa a True Story? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/is-out-of-africa-a-true-story/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=The Cinemaholic |language=en-US}}</ref>

Denys Finch Hatton was an English aristocrat, the son of the [[Henry Finch-Hatton, 13th Earl of Winchilsea|13th Earl of Winchilsea]]. This aspect of his identity is downplayed in the film, particularly through the casting of American actor [[Robert Redford]]. Director [[Sydney Pollack]] and Redford decided against using a British accent for the character, believing it would be distracting for audiences. Redford reportedly had to re-record some lines to remove traces of an English accent from earlier takes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bitfactory |date=2018-11-05 |title=Out of Africa: a dubious film {{!}} Charlie's Travels |url=https://charlies-travels.com/en/africa-film-what-is-wrong-with-out-of-africa/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=charlies-travels.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The film's depiction of the railway journey from [[Mombasa]] to Nairobi shows the train traveling through the [[Great Rift Valley, Kenya]] on the steep backside of the [[Ngong Hills]]. In reality, the railway is located on the higher, opposite side of the Ngong Hills. The passenger car featured in the film was a small combination office/sleeper originally used by supervisors during the construction of the [[Uganda Railway]]. This car was notably the site where a man was taken and killed by a marauding lioness, an event not depicted in the film.

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Out of Africa
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = 1985 (US) / 1986 (UK)
| recorded   = 1985
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = soundtrack
| length     = 12 at 33:27<br>18 at 38:42
| label      = [[MCA Records]]<br>[[Varèse Sarabande]]
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
The music for ''Out of Africa'' was composed and conducted by veteran English composer [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]]. The score included a number of outside pieces such as the second movement [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s ''[[Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)|Clarinet Concerto]]'' and African traditional songs. The soundtrack garnered Barry an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] and sits in fifteenth place in the [[American Film Institute]]'s list of [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores|top 25 American film scores]].<ref>[http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/scores250.pdf?docID=221 ''AFI's 100 Years Of Film Scores''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071543/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/scores250.pdf?docID=221 |date=2011-07-16 }} at [http://www.afi.com AFI.com]</ref> The soundtrack was first released through [[MCA Records]] in 1985 and features 12 tracks of score at a running time of just over thirty-three minutes. In 1987, a Special Edition was issued that included the song "The Music of Goodbye (Love Theme)" by Melissa Manchester & Al Jarreau. A rerecording conducted by [[Joel McNeely]] and performed by the [[Royal Scottish National Orchestra]] was released in 1997 through [[Varèse Sarabande]] and features eighteen tracks of score at a running time just under thirty-nine minutes.<ref>[http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/out_africa.html ''Out of Africa''] soundtrack review at [http://www.filmtracks.com Filmtracks.com]</ref>
In 2024 [[Intrada Records]] issued a 2-CD expansion containing the full score, alternates, source music and the 1985 soundtrack album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.12772/.f|title=OUT OF AFRICA (2CD - EXPANDED)|website=store.intrada.com}}</ref>

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable 
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (1986)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=284}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 29
|}

===Certifications===
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Soundtrack|title=Out of Africa|award=Gold|relyear=1986|certref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=out+of+africa+soundtrack+billboard&pg=PA68|title=Majors|magazine=Billboard|page=A-10|date=15 November 1986|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref>}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=France|artist=B.O.F|title=Out of Africa|award=Gold|certyear=1997|relyear=1991|access-date=6 May 2019}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Spain|artist=John Barry|title=Out of Africa (BSO De La Pelicula Memorias De Africa)|award=Platinum|certyear=2001|relyear=1986|certref=<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005|url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=[[Sociedad General de Autores y Editores|Fundación Autor/SGAE]] |page=961 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref>}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Original Soundtrack|title=Out of Africa|award=Silver|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|relyear=1986|access-date=6 May 2019|id=11298-1140-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=John Barry|title=Out of Africa|award=Gold|certyear=1991|relyear=1986}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==Technical notes==
In the Director's Notes on the [[DVD]] of Pollack's 2005 film ''[[The Interpreter (2005 film)|The Interpreter]]'',<ref>The Interpreter, DVD#25835, Universal Studios</ref> Pollack himself stated that he filmed ''Out of Africa'' and his later films of that decade in 1.85:1 [[widescreen]]; and that it "...probably was one I should have had in widescreen" (i.e. [[Anamorphic format#2.39:1|anamorphic 2.39:1]] widescreen). In his director's notes, Pollack stated that prior to the filming of ''Out of Africa'', he made [[motion picture]]s exclusively in the anamorphic 2.39:1 widescreen format and style, and that he did not resume the [[Anamorphic format#2.39:1|anamorphic 2.39:1]] widescreen format, due to the rise of [[pan and scan]] which had affected the compositions of many anamorphic movies, until his last movie, ''[[The Interpreter (2005 film)|The Interpreter]]'', in 2005.

==Release==
===Critical reception===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 62% based on 90 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Though lensed with stunning cinematography and featuring a pair of winning performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, ''Out of Africa'' suffers from excessive length and glacial pacing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/out_of_africa |title=''Out of Africa'' (1985) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] reports a score of 69 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/out-of-africa|title=Out of Africa Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=July 14, 2019}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/movies/ed-mintz-dead.html|title=Ed Mintz, Who Gave Audiences the Chance to Grade Films, Dies at 83|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=March 18, 2024|accessdate=July 31, 2024|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=March 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327083344/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/movies/ed-mintz-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film four stars out of four and called it "one of the great recent epic romances," adding, "What we have here is an old-fashioned, intelligent, thoughtful love story, told with enough care and attention that we really get involved in the passions among the characters."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/out-of-africa-1985 |title=Out of Africa |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=December 20, 1985 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=March 5, 2019 }}</ref> [[Vincent Canby]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described it as "a big, physically elaborate but wispy movie" with Redford's character "a total cipher, and a charmless one at that. It's not Mr. Redford's fault. There's no role for him to act."<ref>Canby, Vincent (December 18, 1985). "[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/africa-re.html?scp=3&sq=loews&st=cse Screen: Out of Africa.]" ''[[The New York Times]]''. C17.</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, and declared: "My basic problem with this otherwise sumptuous and well-acted film is that I never was able to accept Redford in character ... He seems distant to the point of distraction. He is not convincing in his period outfits. He looks and acts as if he just walked out of the safari fitting room at [[Abercrombie & Fitch]]."<ref>Siskel, Gene (December 20, 1985). "Redford mars the beauty of 'Out of Africa'". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 7, p. A, M.</ref> [[David Ansen]] of ''[[Newsweek]]'' wrote that the film was "well worth the wait," calling it "a sprawling but always intelligent romantic epic that depicts Karen Blixen's struggles to hold on to both the man and the land she loves and cannot possess."<ref>Ansen, David (December 23, 1985). "Paradise Remembered". ''[[Newsweek]]''. p. 72.</ref>

[[Sheila Benson]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote that the film "seems to be just the thing for famished culture mavens at Christmastime. Unfortunately, and through no fault of Meryl Streep, there doesn't seem to be enough electricity generated out there in Africa to power a love story 2½ hours long".<ref>Benson, Sheila (December 18, 1985). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-18-ca-26572-story.html "Two Women of Substance in Unlikely Settings."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part VI, p. 1.</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' found that the film "rarely really comes to life except when Redford is around, which unfortunately is not often in the first hour," but once Streep and Redford get together it becomes "a wonderful romance, probably Redford's best since ''[[The Way We Were]]''".<ref>"Film Reviews: Out of Africa". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. December 11, 1985. 17.</ref>

[[Pauline Kael]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' described the film as "unsatisfying" and wrote that Streep is "animated in the early scenes; she's amusing when she acts ditsy, and she has some oddly affecting moments. Her character doesn't deepen though, or come to mean more to us, and Redford doesn't give out with anything for her to play against."<ref>Kael, Pauline (December 30, 1985). "The Current Cinema". ''[[The New Yorker]]''. 67, 68.</ref> [[Paul Attanasio]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' stated that the film "has little in the way of narrative drive" and "rarely seems more than an elevated form of tourism."<ref>Attanasio, Paul (December 20, 1985). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/12/20/out-of-africa-redford-38/a0147dd0-43c7-4d8c-ad6d-757602cee6f7/?noredirect=on 'Out of Africa': Redford & Streep in a Tropical Tupor.]" ''[[The Washington Post]]''. C4.</ref>

Reviewing the film in 2009, [[James Berardinelli]] wrote: "Watching ''Out of Africa'' a quarter of a century after its release, it's almost impossible to guess how it won the Oscar for Best Picture ... Sydney Pollack's direction is quietly competent and the acting by Meryl Streep and Robert Redford is top notch. But the lazy story is little more than an ordinary melodrama that simmers without ever reaching a boil. To tell the truth, during the entirety of the movie's nearly three-hour running length, I was more interested in the scenery and Barry's music than I was in the characters."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/out-of-africa |title=Out of Africa |last=Berardinelli |first=James |date=May 28, 2009 |website=Reelviews |access-date=March 5, 2019 }}</ref>

===Box office===
The film was the [[1985 in film#Highest-grossing films (U.S.)|fifth-highest grossing film of 1985]] in the United States and Canada with a gross of $87 million.<ref name=mojo/> It grossed $227.5 million worldwide<ref name=mojo/> and was the second highest-grossing film in Germany with a gross of $23 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=28|date=October 11, 1999|title=Pollack: From 'Eyes' To 'Hearts'}}</ref>

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="11"| [[58th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref name="Oscars1986">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1986 |title=The 58th Academy Awards (1986) Nominees and Winners |access-date=2011-10-16|work=oscars.org}}</ref><ref name="NY Times">{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36787/Out-of-Africa/awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217043507/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36787/Out-of-Africa/awards |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-02-17 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2012 |title=NY Times: Out of Africa |access-date=2009-01-01}}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Sydney Pollack]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Meryl Streep]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Klaus Maria Brandauer]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| [[Kurt Luedtke]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]]
| Art Direction: [[Stephen B. Grimes]]; <br> Set Decoration: [[Josie MacAvin]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| [[David Watkin (cinematographer)|David Watkin]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Milena Canonero]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]]
| [[Fredric Steinkamp]], [[William Steinkamp]], [[Pembroke J. Herring]], and [[Sheldon Kahn]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| [[Chris Jenkins (sound engineer)|Chris Jenkins]], [[Gary Alexander (sound engineer)|Gary Alexander]], [[Larry Stensvold]], and [[Peter Handford]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic|Best Edited Feature Film]]
| Fredric Steinkamp, William Steinkamp, Pembroke J. Herring, and Sheldon Kahn
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BMI Awards|BMI Film & TV Awards]]
| Film Music Award
| John Barry
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[40th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress in a Leading Role]]
| Meryl Streep
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| Klaus Maria Brandauer
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Kurt Luedtke
| {{won}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| David Watkin
| {{won}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| Milena Canonero
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Original Music]]
| John Barry
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
| Tom McCarthy Jr., Peter Handford, and Chris Jenkins
| {{won}}
|-
| [[British Society of Cinematographers#Award categories|British Society of Cinematographers Awards]]
| [[British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film|Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film]]
| David Watkin
| {{won}}
|-
| [[12th César Awards|César Awards]]
| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| rowspan="4"| Sydney Pollack
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[David di Donatello|David di Donatello Awards]]
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Foreign Producer
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director|Best Foreign Director]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor|Best Foreign Actor]]
| [[Robert Redford]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress|Best Foreign Actress]]
| Meryl Streep
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Foreign Screenplay
| Kurt Luedtke
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[38th Directors Guild of America Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures]]
| Sydney Pollack
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[DVD Exclusive Awards]]
| Best DVD Audio Commentary
| Sydney Pollack <small>(for the ''Collector's Edition'')</small>
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[43rd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama|Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]]
| Meryl Streep
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| Klaus Maria Brandauer
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| Sydney Pollack
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Kurt Luedtke
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| John Barry
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="3"| [[Goldene Leinwand|Golden Screen Awards]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Guild of German Art House Cinemas Awards
| Foreign Film
| Sydney Pollack
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Japan Academy Film Prize]]
| colspan="2"| [[Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film|Outstanding Foreign Language Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Joseph Plateau Award]]s
| Best Score
| John Barry
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
| Best Actress
| Meryl Streep
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| Klaus Maria Brandauer
| {{won}}
|-
| [[London Critics Circle Film Awards]]
| Special Achievement Award
| John Barry
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1985|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Meryl Streep
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| David Watkin
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Nastro d'Argento]]
| Best Foreign Director
| Sydney Pollack
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Foreign Actress
| Meryl Streep
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[National Board of Review Awards 1985|National Board of Review Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[National Board of Review: Top Ten Films|Top Ten Films]]
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| rowspan="2"| Klaus Maria Brandauer
| {{won}}
|-
| [[1985 National Society of Film Critics Awards|National Society of Film Critics Awards]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{draw|4th Place}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[1985 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|New York Film Critics Circle Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{draw|3rd Place}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| Meryl Streep
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Klaus Maria Brandauer
| {{won}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematographer|Best Cinematographer]]
| David Watkin
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Sant Jordi Awards]]
| Best Foreign Actress
| Meryl Streep
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[38th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best  Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium]]
| Kurt Luedtke
| {{nom}}
|}

'''[[American Film Institute]]''' lists:
* 2002 [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions]] #13
* 2005 [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores]] #15

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0089755|Out of Africa}}
* [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/out-of-africa-am6591 ''Out of Africa'' at AllMovie]
* {{TCMDb title|19122|Out of Africa}}
* {{AFI film|55710}}
* {{mojo title|outofafrica|Out of Africa}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|out_of_africa|Out of Africa}}

{{Karen Blixen}}
{{Sydney Pollack}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Out of Africa''
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Picture}}
{{David di Donatello Best Foreign Film}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture Drama}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Out Of Africa}}
[[Category:1985 films]]
[[Category:1985 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:American biographical films]]
[[Category:American romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Swahili-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sydney Pollack]]
[[Category:Best Drama Picture Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Best Picture Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:American epic films]]
[[Category:Romantic drama films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films based on Danish novels]]
[[Category:Films set in Denmark]]
[[Category:Films set in Kenya]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Empire]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1910s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1930s]]
[[Category:Films shot in England]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kenya]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Sound Mixing Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose art director won the Best Art Direction Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose director won the Best Directing Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Original Score Academy Award]]
[[Category:American historical romance films]]
[[Category:Romantic epic films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Karen Blixen]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Karen Blixen]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Barry (composer)]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award]]
[[Category:Films produced by Sydney Pollack]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Kim Jorgensen]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic drama films]]