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Alexander Michaletos,
Alexander Michaletos,
Eamonn Walker,
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Carroll Ballard,
Carroll Ballard
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: WHV
: Drama, Kids, Coming of Age , Adventure, Wilderness & Nature
: 100 min.
: English
: English, Spanish, French
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Carroll Ballard, director of The Black Stallion and Never Cry Wolf, presents another story of an unusual relationship between humans and animals in this drama. Xan (Alexander Michaletos) is a young boy who lives with his father and mother (Campbell Scott and Hope Davis) on a ranch in Kenya. One day, Xan and his folks discover a cheetah cub whose mother has died. With no one to care for the cat, Xan and his family take the cheetah under their wing, and after naming the cub "Dooms" (from "Duma," which means "male cheetah cub" in Swahili), Xan and his new friend become inseparable. However, Xan and his parents discover in time that nature doesn't always have a happy ending planned for a little boy. Duma was based on a book for children called How It Was With Dooms: A True Story From Africa, by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft, which told the story of Xan's real-life friendship with a cheetah. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| A Must See for All Ages
by suzysez
May 31, 2006 - 1:26 PM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| We were fortunate enough to see Duma at the fabulous Balboa Theatre in San Francisco when the director, Carroll Ballard, introduced the film and took questions afterwards. This film is so stunningly beautiful...the vast open spaces of Africa are shown in all its dangerous glory....that this is reason enough to see the film. However, this coming-of-age story is not your usual saccharine-laded tale. The young boy who has befriended the abandoned cheetah cub grows up with his friend, and along the way learns some truths about life and death. The boy suffers a grave loss and cannot be consoled, other than to take on the enormous task of returning his pet to the wild -- alone. While venturing through the wilds of Africa, the pair encounter a man also on a quest -- to return home to his village after a disappointing time in the city. The three of them form an uneasy alliance as they learn about trust, faith, and the ability to face adversity in the company of friends. The movie expresses Ballard's view that often, animals speak the truth more clearly than humans. Ballard is a man who grew up an only child, and spent his formative years hiking and exploring in the wilds of the Sierra Nevada. He has mastered the art of letting the natural scenery and animals express emotion that we, as TV, high-tech, fast-food humans have lost. |
| Meet a Cheetah
by talltale
May 9, 2006 - 3:56 PM PDT
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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Another wonderful animal fable from Carrol Ballard ("The Black Stallion"), DUMA may at first seem a tad unbelievable. Hang on, though; it gets better as it proceeds, while remaining visually stunning throughout, with amazing footage of cheetahs and other wildlife. "Duma" tells a story about growing--and growing up--as the hero and secondary hero come to terms with their mistakes and the injustices of life and find some redemption in the process.
Eammon Walker is particularly good as the "found" friend, and Alexander Michaeletos--the young fellow who plays the lead--makes an attractive hero for whom you can root. Hope Davis and Campbell Scott were probably recruited to add marquee value, but they're generally wasted in tertiary roles (and their South African accents veer rather terribly). In the end, it's the cheetah--and Walker--you'll remember best and most fondly. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.54)
24 Votes
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