Reflecting on her illustrious career at Cannes Film Festival, Oscar winner Meryl Streep opened up about one of her most iconic on-screen moments - the shampoo scene from “Out of Africa.” The 1986 Sydney Pollack film starred Streep and Robert Redford as a baroness and a big game hunter who fall in love in a lush desert romance.
Directed by Sydney Pollack, “Out of Africa” was based on Karen Blixen’s 1937 autographical book of the same name. Out of Africa is a 1985 film adaptation of the book by the same name. The book was written by Karen Blixen under the pen name Isak Dinesen.
Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background.
The Intimate Shampoo Scene
In what is considered one of the most intimate moments in movie history, Redford gives Streep a steamy salon scrub in a South African river. The actress went so far as to call the moment a sex scene. “It’s a sex scene in a way, because it’s so intimate. We’ve seen so many scenes of people fucking, but we don’t see that loving touch, that care,” Streep said to big applause during a conversation at Cannes’ Théâtre Debussy.
While speaking at Cannes, Streep recalled that filming the scene initially wasn’t very pleasant. In an interesting wrinkle, Redford needed some coaching on precisely how to give Streep a shampoo to remember. Nervous for their safety, Redford shampooed Streep as if he was kneading bread on her temples. “It was not good,” she said.
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Streep’s longtime hair and makeup artists Roy Hellund took Redford aside and gave him a few pointers. “Redford took the lesson, and he just really got into it, and he was great,” Streep recalled. Streep explained that she didn’t want the scene to end.
The actress and Redford played lovers in the 1985 epic romantic drama. “We really got to know each other after he arrived in Africa,” she said. “I developed this huge crush on him, which made it easier to do the love story.
She continued, “He has an unusual quality for a man - he has a very receptive way about him and is an incredibly good listener. That’s an attribute people usually associate with women.
“The animal that kills the most men in Africa is the hippopotamus, especially when you come between them and the river,” Streep recalled being warned by production. “We had lions, but they were imported from California and they were supposedly fine - tame. So we were shooting in the river and the hippopotamus were right above it.
On Tuesday, Streep was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or at the festival’s opening ceremony. “I felt just a wave of feeling coming from the audience, and it’s so much bigger than I thought - so many tiers of people, all the way up to the top,” she said. “That was not an unrealistic expectation for actresses at that time,” she continued. “Yeah, it was a lot.
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The iconic and prolific actor has received a record-setting 21 Oscar nominations over her nearly five-decade-long career and has won three, for her performances in “Kramer vs.
Shampoo and Poetry by the River | Out Of Africa (1985) | Romcoms
Filming Locations in Kenya
Jaya Travel & Tours’ “On Location” series focuses on famous movie locations worldwide that you can tour. Today, our series features film locations from the Academy Award Winning Best Picture: Out of Africa.Everyone loves movies! They transport us to a different time and place. They let us dream in a way unlike any other, and let us forget our troubles, even if it’s only for a few hours.
Many of the outdoor scenes on the savanna were filmed here, including the moment where Karen and Denys are threatened by a lion attack. The Shaba Reserve, formed by three local reserves, is located north of Nairobi in central Kenya. Animals here are allowed to roam freely without fences blocking off wildlife from wandering the natural landscapes.
Here, you’ll find five species unique to the area including the Reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, and gerenuk. You can’t take Finch Hatton’s biplane for a ride, but you can get the same view from a hot air balloon.
Maasai Mara National park is where the iconic image from the movie poster was shot. You’ll find it on the Kenya-Tanzania border, where the film’s popularity has driven tourism to the area. Consequently, there’s no shortage of things to experience that recreate the romantic feeling of the film.
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For example, you can take a hot air balloon ride or reserve a number of lodges and tented camps. The Mara River, which runs through the reserve and drains into Lake Victoria, is also featured in the film.
In real life, Karen Blixen’s residence was at the foot of the Ngong Hills. The epicenter of Out of Africa tourism would have to be the house where Blixen lived. Built in 1912, Karen and her husband purchased the estate in 1917. Now the Karen Blixen Museum, she lived here after the divorce and ran the plantation until 1931.
The museum is open from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm, including weekends and public holidays, and offers continuous tours. You’ll see some of Karen’s original furniture and belongings as well as some props from the film.
When you’re ready to embark on your journey, Jaya Travel is here to turn your dream trip into a reality. Plan your luxurious escape to Kenya’s romantic landscape, or find another vacation filled with film destinations. With over 49 years of expertise, our in-house travel agents take care of every detail, from flights and hotels to cruises, tours, and travel insurance. We pride ourselves on crafting personalized experiences that cater to your needs, whether it’s accessible travel, unique activities, or unforgettable accommodations. Are you ready to book your vacation?
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