To ask about Sophie's Choice

[GunpowderGelatine]

I bought it today, a bit reluctantly because I know the plot line. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being not especially bad to 10 being soul-destroyingly traumatising, how distressing is this film to watch?

It's distressing. But very good. Not sure I could assign a number

Watching with interest. I've never been able to bring myself to read or watch it and I've read a lot about the Holocaust.

Pre-children, maybe an 8?

Post children, maybe a bazillion?

I don't have children and I'm afraid to watch this film.

10. I won’t watch again.

I think it's manipulative and exploitative. Read Joan Smith's essay in 'Misogynies'.

It's the only film I regret watching. Totally harrowing.

10. Never again

I read it prechildren and it was utterly heartbreaking then, I'm not sure I could reread it now I have DC.

It’s superficially heartbreaking on the one hand.

But also manipulative and very misogynistic on the other.

Meryl Streep is mesmerising in it.

But it’s overall a horrible film. Not one I’d ever watch again.

Wish i never watched it.

I didn't watch the whole thing, just 'the scene' and I've never had a reaction like it. It was actual physical pain.

So I'd expect 10.

I didn’t even find it sad - and I cried at Paddington half an hour ago

Meryl Streep is amazing in it, so utterly damaged by it

I don’t remember much of the film but “the scene” and Meryl Streep’s screaming is burned into my brain. It was bad pre-children, but now I have DS and DD I just couldn’t watch it again.

I have a son and a daughter. It's probably not the best film to watch

I've not seen the film.but I did read the book pre children

Definitely 10

I watched it pre DC. There is no way I could watch it now, no way.

I have never watched, and will never watch this film, I am too much of a wuss. But I am interested to know why people are describing it as mysogynistic?

I would find it unbearable to watch. I can't even read it, extracts alone have been so upsetting.

Unbearable. I almost wretch just thinking about it. I wonder if men have the same physical reactions to that scene as women? I don’t think Dh has ever watched it.

6 or 7?
Harder if you're prone to a good cry.
There's lots in the film that isn't about how damaged she is, but about other people not being able to fix her and not being able to understand her, so about their own shortcomings (is how I remember it). About a society that can't fix someone like her because the past can never be changed.

Never again - really, don’t :(

Yeah, don't read/watch it. It's unbearable.

Only read the book. The protagonist and his desire to lose virginity was tedious

Hmm. Maybe it's a bit intense for a late Sunday night film. I also bought Sunshine on Leith, I might just watch that instead