Customer Reviews

I Dreamed of Africa

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This film is a must see. "I Dreamed of Africa" is based on a true story about Kuki Gallman, her new husband Poalo, and her son. The family makes the bold decision to pick up and move to a run down ranch in beautiful Africa in order to change thier lives for the better. Together as a family they fix up the house and live thier lives in Africa. The story mainly centers around Kuki's view of thier time spent in Africa, therefore you see her pain and her perspective of everything she went through to get there and when they get there. The film has a beautiful setting with a breathtaking soundtrack.This film captures the pain and love that Kuki feels over a series of years. The transitions from year to year are very smooth and the lives of the family are easy to follow. As one watches the family go through the beauties of Africa as well as the dangers of Africa one truley begins to understand the importance of their own life . This film made me want to pick up and move to Africa as well. It is truley inspiring as you see how strong Kuki Gallman was and is and how far she will go to help her family as well as people. I highly reccomend this film.

I saw this movie last night, and was absolutley blown away by the deep impact the story had on me. Kim Basigner did a winderful job in her part as Kuki (cookie). The movie has two VERY sad parts, and it seems almost unreal that those type of things could happen to someone. The cinematography is beautiful, as well as just Africa itself (the film was shot on location). I reccomend this to anybody who wants to see a pretty good movie with a pretty good actress!

After reading all of the preceding negative reviews one who is perusing the ratings might be turned off by negativity here. This is a good movie through and through. What it doesnt contain is a lot of shallow and unbelievable scenes. Basinger and Perez do an excellent job. Most importantly it is entertaining and poignant, definitely bring a box of tissues to view it. Great job - well done, the whole reason to watch a movie is to be entertained, not to try to justify or validate the merits of it based on some less informed know-it-alls. So, ppplllllgggggghhhhhhhh to those who have nothing better to do than pretend they are paid movie critics.

This film was a fluff piece that succeeded better as a showcase for Kim Bassinger and Africa's natural beauty than it did at telling this true story. The first hour of the film was a succession of Kodak moments depicting the romantic splendor of Africa and how idyllic it would be to live there. Although they showed the occasional storm and threatening wild animal, every effort was made to emphasize the positives. They glossed over little things like the oppressive heat (Kenya straddles the equator but no one in the film ever broke a sweat), insects (not a mosquito in sight), and the fact that the rainy season is three months long and it often rains nonstop for weeks. The first hour seemed more like an advertisement by the Kenyan ministry of tourism than a feature film. It wasn't until the second hour that the story really centered on the characters.

Filming Africa is a cinematographer's dream. Unfortunately, Director Hugh Hudson seems to have been so enamored with creating beautiful photography (and it was truly magnificent) that he rushed through the dramatic elements to get to the next helicopter shot of wild animals loping across the plains. Many of the important dramatic scenes were not allowed to fully develop, giving a snippet and then cutting away to a completely unrelated scene. This took much of the impact out of the film. One example is the egg hanging over the bed. A big point was made over the fact that Paolo had put something in the egg. Yet, we never learn what it is. Why tease us with this tidbit if he is not going to follow through?

The film had strong conservationist undertones, but they were tastefully done and not overly preachy. The point was made that poaching to hunt elephants for ivory is illegal and unconscionable, but it was presented in a way that wasn't strident and smug. The scenes of dead elephants made the statement in a poignant way, much better than any dialogue could have.

Kim Basinger was excellent as Kuki. She went with a more natural look which was very flattering. The understated makeup used in the film revealed that even at 47, she is still one of the most beautiful women on the planet. However, after a three-year hiatus since L.A. Confidential, she delivered her second consecutive acting triumph, proving that she is more than just a pretty face. Her acting was far more genuine and mature than any role I had seen her play before. After having read an interview she gave about the film, it is clear that Basinger is a strong conservationist and naturalist and she identified strongly with her role, which imbued her performance with great conviction and believability.

This film was good, but it could have been much better. I rated it a 7/10. The locations and photography were marvelous, but the story's power was frayed by inattention to basic filmmaking tenets. If Hudson had spent more time developing the characters and creating continuity for the story, it would have been an exceptional film.

Based on a true story I did enjoyed this movie a great deal. This is a simple story a nice one and a sad also. But this story offers hope . It is not perfect not your typical Hollywood story . I think that one quality offered by this movie it's just a simple story whithout any pretention. You could say that is a story about life and it could be set in Africa ,America in fact anywhere in this world. Because this movie is about life you can do without any plot or story line (Where will you be in 5 years? do you know ?I doubt it!maybe you do? ) . In this movie the scenery and music are beautifull so is the story of Kuki (Kim Basinger). Some of the weak point in the movie are whith Paolo for exemple when he get's beat by at least ten person kick in the face the rib's in fact all over is body and a few days laters jump's back on his horse like nothing happened . The movie is about a person looking for happiness but by not being stupid knowing that sadness is also there. So has we all do we take the good and the bad and deal with it. Again Kim Basinger is very good in this and I have nothing to say about the other actor.

This is a somewht insipid film, based upon a true story. It tells the tale of Kuki Gallman, a somewhat immature woman in Italy who marrys a man, Paolo, of whom she knows little. She and he, together with her young son, move to Africa, where they buy a large, rundown ranch in Kenya.

Having moved there to make a new life, she finds that her new husband has wanderlust in his soul, as well as a lust for danger and excitement, and is not much of a homebody. She is pretty much left to run the ranch and the household herself, while worrying whether her husband will return home safely from his hunting excursions with his friends. As they adjust to their new life, however, they form a deep love for Africa. Over the years, a series of mishaps and personal tragedies befall her, none of which make her lose her abiding love for Africa, where she chooses to remain, despite entreaties from her mother to return home to Italy.

The cinematography is wonderful. What is wrong with the film is that it is shallow and never fully engages the viewer. As a result, the viewer never really seems to care about the characters, despite the fact that Kim Basinger and Vincent Perez do all they can with the pallid script. Nothing is ever explored or fleshed out. The director touches on a number of themes, but all are passed over as if deemed unimportant. Consequently, the movie just aimlessly moves along, a pleasant, though unimportant, cinematic sojourn.

After purchasing and reading Kuki Gallmann's best selling book of the same title and having loved it, I couldn't wait to buy and see this movie. This movie is as good as the book and gives great justice to the book. Kim Basinger gives an extremely heartwarming performance portraying Kuki Gallmann. Vincent Perez delivers a great performance as Paolo, her husband and of course, being filmed on location in Beautiful Africa sure makes this a movie worth seeing!! Excellent casting, excellent filming and breath taking scenery! I Dreamed Of Africa gives us a look into the life of Kuki Gallmann, which becomes full of trials and tribulations. We witness her personal tragadies, incredible courage and her love for Africa which became her new home. After being involved in a terrible vehicle accident in Italy, Kuki fell in love with Paolo who was the husband of a mutual friend who was killed in the same vehicle accident. Kuki has a son named Emanuele, whom she called Emma. He in turn called Kuki "Pep". It had always been a dream of Kuki's to live in Africa and that dream came true after marrying Paolo. The family moved to a ranch in Kenya named Ol Ari Nyiro in Laikipia to start a life together. At first, Kuki realizes that living in Africa will take some getting used to. Having to deal with strong storms, the local wildlife and poachers turned out to be the least of Kuki's problems. We see her first tragedy in losing her husband, Paolo, in an automobile accident shortly before she was due to give birth to their daughter. We see Kuki's bravery in burying her husband knowing that he will never have the chance to see the daughter he was so anxiously awaiting. Kuki does give birth to a daughter she named Sveva. We see Emma grow up as his facination for snakes grew more and more. This worried Kuki very much. Emma would catch very dangerous poisonous snakes and would keep them in an outside shed. Kuki made her son promise to get rid of all poisonous snakes after she discovered them one day. He did not listen to her. The most heartbreaking part of this movie is when Kuki loses her son. That is a scene that is very hard to watch for you can not help but cry seeing what a mother will do in order to save her son's life. When he was 17, Emma decided to milk a puff adder and was bitten on the finger. A friend found him right away and had to go tell Kuki that her son was dying. Kuki ran into the shed where she saw her son sitting on the floor foaming at the mouth, dying quickly from the snake's venom. She immediately called for help but being many miles away from a hospital, there was not enough time. Emma's last words were..... " I am dying mamma". That was the first time he had ever called her mama and the last time. As the venom took over his whole body and time being against their side, Emma died. That scene was so heartbreaking and so sad as you saw Basinger give an outstanding grieving performance. I don't think anyone could watch that scene and remain dry eyed. So, yet another burial for Kuki but this time, it was her son. Kuki wrote and recited a lovely poem at Emma's funeral. She buried him next to Paolo at the ranch and planted a tree next to each grave. The movie goes on to show us how Kuki got involved in saving the black rhinos from the ruthless poachers by starting The Gallmann Memorial Foundation which exists to this day. After being told by everyone that she should leave Africa, Kuki was determined to stay... for Africa was her home. For anyone who has not seen this film, I strongly recommend viewing it. It is my dream too to live in Africa one day and I guess that's why this movie is so special to me but for those of you who aren't even interested in Africa, this is still a movie worth seeing because it is a true story and is truly touching as we witness what one brave woman had to go through. Kuki is truly an inspiration.

Two things drew me to this movie: the lush photography and actor Vincent Perez, a favorite of mine; neither rescued the film from 2 hours of pleasant dullness however. This true tale about conservationist Kuki Gallman treads dangerously into real-life epic territory. That is the filmmakers have the enormous responsibility of creating an engaging story without betraying the subject. The movie never manages to do either, treading along in stunted, episodic fashion and never revealing an intimate portrait of Gallman.

Instead of a true character, we only see the milestones of her life. After a car accident causes Kuki (Kim Basinger) to reevaluate her life, she decides to move to Kenya with her son (Liam Aiken) and new husband (Perez). There, they test the limits of love and endurance, encountering every natural and human hostility that would greet an upper class European family. In spite of her isolation and the tragedies that befall her, Kuki perseveres and in time becomes part of the African landscape she loves.

The movie is not horrible by any means. Few locations have the naked beauty of Africa, and its nature is seeped with such rawness that one marvels at Kuki's strength of survival. Nevertheless, other films have done much more with much less. As Kuki and Paolo constantly remark of Africa, this movie has a different rhythm, more of the stop and go variety. It suffers from a lack of plot and its dependence on disjointed vignettes that, although revealing, never cohere. I kept searching for a theme or two to materialize - a clash between Kuki and her adventurous husband, her battle to tame life, the land, and herself, etc. - and while the filmmakers likely wanted to avoid pigeonholing her life, we are left with even less of a sense of character.

Despite a weak script, superb acting bolstered the film. Kim Basinger impressed me once again. She commands this role with ferocity, especially with scenes between Kuki and her son. Vincent Perez, who has built a solid body of work across the ocean ("Indochine," "Cyrano de Bergerac"), has yet to find a commercial or critical hit in America. It's too bad because he possesses a unique intensity, not unlike that of Paolo. Charming Liam Aiken is a natural in his role, and Eva Marie Saint embodies every bit the mannerisms of a European elite who otherwise would not set foot in Africa but still loves her daughter for doing so.

This could have been a better DVD. Although there are some good features, including an HBO special, trailers, and score only track, I was disappointed with the lack of information on Kuki Gallman and her conservation efforts. Also, a feature on Kenya would have been nice.

I watched this film mainly because I wanted to know what it would be like to actually live in Africa, a place I'd never been to. I've seen other movies about Africa and numerous documentaries, but all fall short in one vital area, that is, capturing the emotion of the place. However this film, I Dream of Africa, does that very well.

After the initial car accident, the film progresses kind of slow, probably too slow for many people. But after watching the entire film, I can appreciate why that was done. I believe it was to properly and completely develop the characters, something absolutely necessary in a film of this type. Some reviewers here have complained that this film has no plot, no storyline, or even any goals for the characters, unless you consider their day-to-day fight for survival in rugged and savage Africa to be a goal. This is true. But it must be remembered that many TV shows in the past like, Little House on the Prairie, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Dallas, and others had little in the way of a plot but were amazing commercial hits and held an audience for years.

The last third of the film moves along at surprisingly rapid pace. Events happen one after another without much time for contemplation. I think the reason it worked in the film is because the character development was fairly complete at this point so you, as the observer, pretty much could feel the effect it had on the characters in the movie and didn't need to actually see it. Speaking of characters, I had my doubts that Kim Bassinger was the right person for the part. She just seemed to me to be too fragile, too delicate with those baby blue eyes and golden blond hair to survive in a place as brutal as un-tamed Africa. But she pulled it off brilliantly. There is no doubt she is an actress of extraodinary talent and draws you right into the character with amazing power.

In my mind the mark of any outstanding movie is the following; Are you still thinking about it several days after watching it? I was. Even though it was only a movie, I was profoundly changed in my perception of Africa. And when a movie can do that, I consider it a success.

Excellent movie. Inspiring, touching & powerful. You can feel the passion Kuki & Paolo have for the land and for each other. Beautiful.