I read "Out of Africa" as a schoolgirl, it was required reading back in the mid-eighties. The film was made in 1985 and I remember sitting in our school assembly hall to watch it. That must have been 1986, remember those long ago days when it took about a year for a film to finish it's run in cinemas and then be released on VHS tape? I saw Cruella at the cinema about a month ago and I see it is available for streaming now....it might have been a month ago. Anyways, I digress.
This weekend I thought I would like to revisit "Out of Africa" I didn't remember anything much about it but the fact that I remembered it at all told me it might be worth a look.
It cost $4 to stream and it was worth it. The score and the Kenyan landscapes felt familiar but I had completely forgotten the story.
I didn't remember that Karen was forced to travel all the way from Kenya back to Denmark to seek treatment for syphillis, caught from her husband. I'm almost surprised that as school girls, we were allowed to read a story containing any discussion of STIs.
I didn't remember the brief depictions of muslim society: one scene where the muslim members of a working party knelt on prayer mats and one where women appeared in hijab. I think at 15 I was almost unaware of any feature of muslim culture. As i watched those scenes I wondered what I made of them back in those days? Maybe I was staring out the window, not noticing or maybe I just accepted it all as part of the African setting.
As I watched, the romantic 15 year old I once was swooned a little at the "romance" of colonial life. The beautiful homes full of starched linens, fine china, New Years balls and polished silverware seem so very civilised, calm and orderly. It wasn't "civilised" though, was it? It all came at a price which is still being paid today.
"Out of Africa" stood up very well, the definition and cinematography were not what they would be today but aside from technological advance, I thought it could have passed for a much more recent film.
I've never seen Out of Africa, so I can't comment, except to say that yes, all those beautiful homes must have been very alluring, until you realise the hidden oppression that made that pampered lifestyle possible.
ReplyDeleteYes and even if we take the oppression out of the mix, it took a whole staff to run a house
DeleteI was pretty sure that I had watched the film but having read your synopsis I'm no longer that confident. I haven't watched a film since before the first Covid lockdown came about 18 months ago.
ReplyDeleteWell Graham, the little bits I've mentioned are just fleeting and incidental. I think it was a hit back in the day so you might have seen it.
DeleteI rarely go to the cinema but I see quite a lot of different movies and tv on streaming services
I don't think I've seen it all. Robert Redford? The film that brings to mind crisp linen, overbearing heat, and ennui is White Mischief - I recall thinking it was horrific, there was a lot of cultural mistreatment in this film too. Anyhow, I'd like to see them both again.
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Yes, Robert Redford and Meryl. There wasn't actually obvious cultural mistreatment, the servants appeared well treated, but who could afford to have a house full of servants if there wasn't a power mismatch?
DeleteI don't know white heat at all, must check it out
White mischief!
DeleteI saw the film first, and several years later Iread the book. I remember the photography as lush and wonderful, and hearing Meryl Streep speak with a Danish accent was fascinating. I remember being surprised that the Robert Redford role in the film was actually British in the book. The best part was reading the wonderful writing of Isak Dinesen (the pen name of the Baroness Karen von Blixen). All these years later the dialogue from the film that I remember most is Robert Redford saying "Your Kikuyu?" to Meryl. Funny what stays with us and what sloughs off. If ever a film deserved to be seen on a big screen, though, it's Out Of Africa. Two of my grandsons spent their summer in Kenya about five years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is a jumble and not well-thought-out, but I'm not going back to edit it. It is what it is, he said, unstream-of-consciously.
Robert Redford challenged the Baronness like that a couple of times. Youdid well to remember that.
DeleteI remember Meryl's Australian accent as Lindy Chamberlain and to Australian ears it was not very good. I wonder if her Danish accent was better?
Your grandsons have travelled more than I have!
So I now have a good book to read.
ReplyDeleteAnother one I remember reading was "A Fortunate Life" A.B Facey
DeleteI saw no movies in the mid 80s since I was doing craft shows full time. I do want to see Out of Africa!
ReplyDeleteWhat did you do at the craft shows?
DeleteThank you. You have taken me back on a nostalgia trip. I too will see it again.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it 😊
DeleteI didn't see the film or read the book but I may do so some day. The only bit I remember about the movie is reading an interview with Meryl Streep. It was pointing out her dedication to her craft with the story of a lengthy scene she was in. She felt something crawling inside her blouse but kept on with the scene. The "something" turned out to be a gigantic spider. Brr.
ReplyDeleteI'm not terrified of spiders but I would want to know what was in my clothes. She's a consummate professional, clearly 😊
DeleteTruman Capote said he returned to Out of Africa again and again: the first page alone!
ReplyDeleteAfrican writers see Blixen's book as an exercise in colonialist adventurism and romantic Eurocentric egotism. Those types did shoot a lot of beautiful animals.
My late older brother read intensely as an art student in the Sixties.
I can still hear his Latinate voice informing me about the meaning of the title:
Ex Africa semper aliquid novi (the elder Pliny).
Always something new out of Africa.
My younger sister said she had no thoughts about Africa till she went there as an employee of NGOs. She was captivated.
I have lost count of the countries she has been in, including some terrible West African countries.
She visited Isak Dinesen's house and walked in the Kenyan Highlands.
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea and Ethiopia stand out in her memories, less so Zaire.
She stayed in a hotel in Rwanda where the militia had plotted the genocide of the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa.
We missed many of the people and animals in the lavish film of the book.
I liked the way we heard Streep's voice repeating *I had a farm in Africa.*
I have read and reread all of Karen Blixen/ Isak Dinesen's work and the biography.
During WWII Blixen had Nazi officers staying in her grand home in Denmark.
They tolerated her enlightened views but did not take them seriously.
The future belonged to them, or so they thought.
Jack H
I haven't been to Africa and never likely to but it captivates me, too. The landscapes have some similarities to Australia and the people appear to be joyful.
DeleteYou have read more than I have ever dreamed of and you are always able to provide a reference. I remember odd bit but wouldn't know how to attribute them!
Peter Matthiessen's book *The Tree Where Man Was Born* reminds us that the human race began in Africa.
ReplyDeleteI went with my sister to see *The Last King of Scotland* (2006) and she recognised the streets of Kampala.
Uganda was the bread basket of Africa and no one imagined there could be famine there, all because of Idi Amin.
I remember the film for the red earth roads and the culture of the country people.
If you enjoy vicarious travel, I recommend the videos of Eva zu Beck (YouTube) whether she is on a 5 day trek with the Massai in Tanzania, climbing Kilimanjaro, or hiking in the hills of Ethiopia.
Eva zu Beck is Polish, grew up in London, and travels with her American husband.
She went by train from San Francisco to New York, and although I like trains and hate big airplanes, I knew I had no need to make that journey. Eva did it on my behalf.
I am a slow reader, Kylie.
Just now I am rereading Willa Cather's *My Antonia* and reading some scenes aloud.
This morning I picked up a biography of Stephen Sondheim by Meryle Secrest, and started reading from the day he arrived at his small Ivy League college in Massachusetts.
Your comment has me watching *Mental Places: A Conversation with Gerard Murnane* (YouTube). I am captivated by the Wimmera of Western Victoria where Gerard lives.
Paul Theroux's two African books are page turners, *The Last Train to Zona Verde* and *The Dark Star Safari* : in the second he describes being ill in a remote village and being pestered for money. This is a man who can endure being alone and sick.
Karen Blixen never returned to Africa, did she?
They made a good film of her story *Babette's Feast* (1987).
Stephane Audran as the Cordon Bleu chef of genius is wonderful. It's on DVD.
I hope your recovery is going well and that your children are happy.
Jack H
I watched Gerard Munane tho I don't know his work. Interesting chap.
DeleteIf you're interested in rural Australia, there's an ABC production called "Back roads" which I like. There are some episodes on you tube
*The End of Travel Vlogging? Life Updates.*
ReplyDeleteEva zu Beck. 27 February 2021. YouTube.
An outing in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, curtailed by an attack of bugs, hence the (temporary) end of vlogging. Eva is the new Paul Theroux.
Jack
I did see the film but had completely forgotten all about it. I think I need to see it again because I love Meryl Streep. I was watching clips of her in "Sophie's Choice" and realised how good she was.
ReplyDeleteyes, when I can't decide what to watch I revisit anything of Meryl's or Jack Nicholson
DeleteI read the book and saw the film yonks ago Kylie but thanks to your post will revisit both.
ReplyDeleteAt a younger age I was captivated (of course) by the romance.
XO
WWW
The romance was lovely
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
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