I WILL NEVER FORGET MERYL STREEP IN SOPHIE’S CHOICE

It’s been a long time since I watched Alan J. Pakula’s Sophie’s Choice (1982), but I want to talk about Meryl Streep’s portrayal of the title character because it really might be one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen. I can’t bring myself to watch it on account of how when I really start to ruminate on it, I start to feel sick. But all the same, I think it’s a great movie, held up by Meryl’s legendary performance. It’s been years, and I still feel confident discussing it, which really goes to show the kind of impression it made on me.

As she hands her daughter to the nazi, I can still remember the look in her eyes and it haunts me to this day. In every way, we are looking at the face of a woman who has just committed the unthinkable. There is nothing in her face that rings false, that shows anything besides the highest level of horror a person can feel. When we look into her eyes, it is true.

I remember that look when she delivers her daughter, hands reaching out to take her back as if she can’t understand what’s happening, hands coming to her mouth in disbelieving, out-of-body horror. The movie is so iconic because of this 30-second sequence. I don’t think audiences are prepared to handle that because, as we all know, it’s a meme now. I really do understand the humor in it, but I can’t let myself think about it for even a second, or Meryl will suck me down into that dark place that I can’t forget.