Duma (B or 3/4 stars)
'Duma', a family film directed by Carroll Ballard, tells the epic tale of a special bond between man & beast. An orphaned cheetah, Duma, becomes the best friend of a grieving South African boy named Xan (Alexander Michaeletos). Realizing it's for the best, Xan hopes to cross the country and return Duma to his rightful home, the wild. The cheetah is more charismatic than the humans, but this stirring drama lends a gentility, calm, & beauty that most films lack.
Duma in Swahili means cheetah. After Xan & his father (Campbell Scott) discover the cheetah, they take him in as their family pet. A love is forged btwn. Duma & his owners. Once he's all grown up, Xan's dad informs him that it's time for Duma to return to his natural habitat, to have his freedom. But a tragedy strikes the family, and it's up to Xan to leave his woeful mother (Hope Davis), escape with Duma (before he's put into captivity), & travel several hundreds of miles. Carrying out the plans his dad mapped out, Xan must endure the Makgadikgadi Plains, the Okavango Delta, & the treacherous Erongo Mountains.
The vision of Xan riding his father's motorcycle across an arid desert with Duma sitting beside him in the sidecar is priceless. But problems arise early. Low on water/fuel, they search far & wide for shade to relax in. They eventually stumble upon a mysterious nomad, Ripkuna (Eamonn Walker), on a journey of his own. Xan doesn't trust 'Rip', but knows that any help will do. If worse comes to worse, Xan can sic Duma on him as swift retribution. The trio find a deserted airplane and turn the motorcycle into a sort of desert sailboat! Along their journey, they encounter several unexpected perils ...
i.e., high temperatures, lack of food, poisonous creatures (once they reach a jungle), lions, crocodiles, and gushing rapids. Do they all make it out of the Erongo Mountains? Can Xan finally set Duma free? Or will he not be able to let go of the only being in the world who knows him better than himself?
This is a wonderful tale of self-discovery, finding courage, & doing what's right. The boy who plays Xan is wonderful as you can feel the honest connection btwn. him & Duma. The video photography of South Africa's wild lands is exquisitely shot. The way Duma interacts with the human actors in this film is something to behold. I liked that it shows just how affectionate and tame a non-domestic animal can be, when properly taken care of. This can be considered a children's movie (with child point-of-views, average dialogue, straightforward acting, & occasional flatness). But this kind of mindful film takes me right back to when I was a kid. I outright LOVED a rare find ... just like this. The story is simple, but the emotion resonates deeply. Whether you're 7 or 77, 'Duma' will greatly impress.
Duma in Swahili means cheetah. After Xan & his father (Campbell Scott) discover the cheetah, they take him in as their family pet. A love is forged btwn. Duma & his owners. Once he's all grown up, Xan's dad informs him that it's time for Duma to return to his natural habitat, to have his freedom. But a tragedy strikes the family, and it's up to Xan to leave his woeful mother (Hope Davis), escape with Duma (before he's put into captivity), & travel several hundreds of miles. Carrying out the plans his dad mapped out, Xan must endure the Makgadikgadi Plains, the Okavango Delta, & the treacherous Erongo Mountains.
The vision of Xan riding his father's motorcycle across an arid desert with Duma sitting beside him in the sidecar is priceless. But problems arise early. Low on water/fuel, they search far & wide for shade to relax in. They eventually stumble upon a mysterious nomad, Ripkuna (Eamonn Walker), on a journey of his own. Xan doesn't trust 'Rip', but knows that any help will do. If worse comes to worse, Xan can sic Duma on him as swift retribution. The trio find a deserted airplane and turn the motorcycle into a sort of desert sailboat! Along their journey, they encounter several unexpected perils ...
i.e., high temperatures, lack of food, poisonous creatures (once they reach a jungle), lions, crocodiles, and gushing rapids. Do they all make it out of the Erongo Mountains? Can Xan finally set Duma free? Or will he not be able to let go of the only being in the world who knows him better than himself?
This is a wonderful tale of self-discovery, finding courage, & doing what's right. The boy who plays Xan is wonderful as you can feel the honest connection btwn. him & Duma. The video photography of South Africa's wild lands is exquisitely shot. The way Duma interacts with the human actors in this film is something to behold. I liked that it shows just how affectionate and tame a non-domestic animal can be, when properly taken care of. This can be considered a children's movie (with child point-of-views, average dialogue, straightforward acting, & occasional flatness). But this kind of mindful film takes me right back to when I was a kid. I outright LOVED a rare find ... just like this. The story is simple, but the emotion resonates deeply. Whether you're 7 or 77, 'Duma' will greatly impress.