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Poster for Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice

Seen it?

1982 | 151 min | Drama, Romance

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It won an Oscar, people are still talking about it and it earned strong reviews (74% on Rotten Tomatoes). A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Schindler's List or The Pianist, start here.
The mood
Harrowing, warm and romantic.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 31 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's long: 2 hr 31 min.

Stingo, a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie and her lover Nathan, he learns that she is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Actress. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 1 BAFTA. Plus 9 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $30 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactVery strong

    About 753K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Alan J. Pakula

  • Meryl StreepZofia "Sophie" Zawistowski
  • Kevin KlineNathan Landau
  • Peter MacNicolStingo
  • Rita KarinYetta
  • Stephen D. NewmanLarry
  • Greta TurkenLeslie Lapidus
  • Josh MostelMorris Fink
  • Marcell RosenblattAstrid Weinstein
  • Moishe RosenfeldMoishe Rosenblum
  • Robin BartlettLillian Grossman