Following WWII, we’re introduced to "Stingo" (Peter MacNicol), who isn't particularly taken with his new neighbors upstairs. “Nathan” (Kevin Kline) comes across as a loud and somewhat rough man toward his girlfriend, “Sophie” (Meryl Streep). Fortunately, the next morning things seem calmer when they appear at his window to invite him on a picnic by the sea. He’s an aspiring writer, and he quickly notices Nathan's instability—a Jewish man carrying a lot of emotional weight. Sophie seems much more thoughtful and reserved, and that quietness is something he feels compelled to break through. Once he manages to do so and she starts sharing with him, it’s revealed that she survived the holocaust and had to make some terrible choices just to survive. It's this later, close-up and disturbing part of the film that truly highlights Streep's skill at conveying a real sense of fear. The accent might not be perfect, but the scenes set in the camp, the horrors, and the oddness of the commandant’s surprisingly comfortable home and happy family—just feet away from such brutality where she ends up working as domestic help—are also handled well, with subtlety. Occasionally we return to their present-day lives to refocus the story and move forward with the more contemporary plot before delving deeper into what happened in Europe during the 1940s. It's one of those films that shows how the people who suffered through this evil want or need to forget, while others are intensely interested in hearing about their experiences. From that point of view, MacNicol does a good job—carefully navigating sensitive emotional ground—particularly as the relationships between them change. Kline doesn’t let anyone down either; his irritatingly anxious character isn't always easy to like, but he contributes significantly to this powerfully written story, adding depth to feelings of guilt, sadness, anger and regret as the narrative gains momentum. The production has a stylish look reminiscent of *The Great Gatsby*, and it is full of humanity, humility, and occasional dark humor. It’s not an effortless film to watch, but stories like this remain important.

Source on TMDB