Meryl Streep Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of "Sophie's Choice"

Forty-two years ago, Sophie’s Choice was released, and almost instantly became a classic of American cinema. Four decades later, the three leads reunited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic film (just a couple of years late), with an event hosted by French luxury fashion house Lanvin.

On Tuesday night, costars Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol appeared at a screening of Sophie’s Choice at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, where special guests included other acting greats like Ethan Hawke, Cate Blanchett, Uma Thurman, Holland Taylor, and Claire Danes.

Dia Dipasupil//BFA

Attendees gathered in the Roy and Niuta Titus Theater to watch the 1982 movie, before heading across the street to the grand salon at Baccarat Hotel for an intimate cocktail hour. For the event, many of them were outfitted in looks from Lanvin, including Streep, Danes, Thurman, and Sarita Choudhury. The theme was cocktail, and the stars really brought their best with stylish evening-wear looks, ranging from finely-tailored pantsuits to blazers paired with playful skirts.

Before the film began, Streep noted, “We’re the only ones still standing … the visionaries who birthed Sophie’s Choice are not.” (Director Alan J. Pakula died in 1998, and author William Styron, who wrote the novel the film was adapted from, passed away in 2006.) Still, it was a celebratory evening honoring the sense of communion filmmaking forges among actors and other creators alike.

Dia Dipasupil//BFA

Dia Dipasupil//BFA

In case you’ve never seen it, the psychological drama follows the story of three friends who become inseparable while living in a boardinghouse in post–World War II Brooklyn. Their relationships, however, are strained by deep secrets and dark pasts. At the center of this trio is Sophie (Streep), who survived living in Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland, but whose traumatic experiences from that time continue to haunt her.

When Sophie’s Choice was released, it grossed $30 million at the box office—over triple its budget. It earned a total of five nominations at the 55th Academy Awards, where Streep ultimately won Best Actress in a Leading Role (her second Oscar win in three years). And need we mention that the film’s title also became an everyday expression?

Last night’s screening was part of an ongoing series of retrospective screening productions hosted by Alan Pepe Communications. Over the past decade, the public relations and marketing agency’s VIP series has recognized the work of directors like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, and Ridley Scott. The Sophie’s Choice event was particularly noteworthy, as it marked the series’ official post-pandemic return.

Dia Dipasupil//BFA

Dia Dipasupil//BFA

Joel is the editorial and social media assistant for HarpersBAZAAR.com, where he covers all things celebrity news. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him singing off-key at concerts, scavenging thrift stores for loud wardrobe staples, or perusing bookstores for the next great gay romance novel.

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