Alan J Pakula made this 1982 film about Sophie, a Nazi survivor in love with an American Jew. The romantic drama unfolds slowly, taking its time between mystery and complexity.

This Meryl Streep performance, frequently referred to as the finest work by an actress in celluloid history, sees her as Sophie Zawistowski -- and it so overwhelmingly natural a portrayal that it is hard to call it 'acting.'

Sophie is hurt and haunted, longing and lonely, in love and untouchable, lovely and wounded. An immense performance.