"My Africa" - From Memoir to Film

Karen Blixen (1885-1962) was a Danish writer under the name Isak Dinesen, famous for her memoir Out of Africa. From 1914 to 1931, Karen Blixen lived in East Africa, Kenya, on a coffee plantation. In 1985, Sydney Pollack produced the film Out of Africa, depicting the memoirs of Karen Blixen's life in Africa. As the movie is an adaptation and a depiction of the baroness's life, it also reveals Blixen's perception of Africa, an Africa she created for her own intellectual elation. Pollack's use of symbols, dialogue, and cinematographic techniques portrays Karen Blixen's perception of Africa physically and metaphorically.

The physical elements of Africa that are prominent in the film are the landscapes. Pollack and cinematographer David Watkin use aerial shots and panning to show the depth and expanse of the African land. These images of lush, green jungles, dry, blue-skied deserts, and wild animals portray Africa as a vast, untouched place, (as one will still find in National Geographic). Karen Blixen's perception of Africa is exotic, allowing her to free herself from being a "mental traveler". The greatest image viewers have of Africa in the movie is the scene when Meryl Streep's Karen is swept across Africa in an airplane with her lover Denys (Robert Redford). This scene emphasizes Africa as a place of wonder and mystery, the Africa Karen Blixen lived in.

Pollack's use of symbols throughout the film also lead viewers to understanding Karen Blixen's idea of Africa. One symbol is the compass Meryl Streep's Karen receives from Denys. The compass is a symbol of guidance and security, guiding Karen on her small ventures while also protecting her from the mysteries and dangerous terrain of Africa.

The dialogue in Out of Africa also serves as an image, impelling viewers into seeing the Africa depicted in the movie as Karen Blixen's Africa. Blixen refers to "my farm...my Kikuus...my Africa," subtle expressions that what we see on the screen is not a real picture of Africa, but the image Blixen has created in her memoir, in her mind.

These metaphorical and physical images of Africa ensure that Sydney Pollack was not trying to manipulate or exploit Africa, but to further illustrate Africa as a place that was once, and still is (1985) an alluring and boundless place.

A New Interpretation of Africa

Torment, torture, and abuse of black slaves are what are seen at first glimpse, but the detailed landscape is a representation of Africa in contrast to slavery. David Livingstone was an African explorer who enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Africa, but despised the ongoing process of slavery. His detailed portrayal of foreground and background presents a double-sided coin, a double perspective in other words, to what Africa really was. The fact of the matter was that slavery was occurring, it wasn't something to deny, but at the same time it was not the only thing that Africa had to offer. There were huge hills, gorgeous oceans, and tons of plant life in addition to the slave trade that was occurring daily.
The title, as you can see, of this piece if "Slavers Revenging Their Loses". The purpose of the painting, from the title, is to show the unequal treatment of slaves, but the landscape of both foreground and background is in great detail. Livingstone is educating us onlookers; he wants us to be aware of the tortures that are occurring, but not to lose sight of the beauty Africa has to offer.
The detailed portrayal of foreground and background is also a portrayal of slavery and freedom. Looking in the foreground you are shown slaves attached together and one even being killed for not being as fast as the others, this is a clear representation of slavery. In the background you are shown the ocean, hills, and birds soaring through the sky. The ocean looks closer than it actually is and the birds are bigger than they actually are, these alterations present the concept of freedom. Even when death and captivity is present in Africa, there is still good alive in the background. There is more to this picture; there is an interpretation and meaning this image for us to understand.