Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- In what ways do the men in Out of Africa deceive Karen? In what ways are they honest with her?
- What is it about Africa that makes it such a potent chapter in this woman's life?
- How do we see Karen defy the conventions of the time, especially where women are concerned, without actively upsetting the social order?
- How does the movie reflect the events of World War I?
- Why is Karen's contracting of syphilis so devastating?
- Is Denys a better man than Bror?
- What's the significance of the pen that Denys gives Karen at the beginning?
- How does Karen respond to the tragedies that befall her? What does that say about her character?
- Does the gorgeous cinematography overwhelm the storyline?
- Some people thought that the film romanticized the brutal colonialism in British East Africa. What do you think?
- How did the director manage to portray the built-in racism of that era while treating the native characters respectfully?