Duma

It is a real shame that DUMA failed to receive any sort of theatrical release here in New Zealand, as the film offers many enchanting moments for adults and children alike. The story mainly concerns the strong bond between Xan, a young white South African boy, and Duma, his orphaned Cheetah, and the adventures they have as they cross the country to return Duma his homeland to attempt to induct him back into the wild. DUMA is directed by Carroll Ballard with an unparalleled eye for the visual beauty of the scenery and countless creatures found in this natural habitat; so much so that you could be mistaken for thinking that you were watching the Discovery Channel at times. Alexander Michaletos (Xan) has the majority of the screen time and gives a solid performance in conveying a broad range of emotions and feelings and seems right at home with his feral co-stars. Eamonn Walker, as Ripkuna, and Campbell Scott and Hope Davis, in limited roles as Xan's parents, are all also outstanding, and the work with the Cheetah(s) is remarkable with little, if any, cheating using CGI. Perhaps the greatest achievement of this film, however, is to fully develop Duma, yes - the Cheetah, into a genuine three dimensional character. The way camera lingers on this magnificent creature, highlighting his stripes and fur, reactions and mannerisms, helps us, the audience, fall in love with the real star of the film. The adventures and encounters that Duma and Xan have along the way to their eventual destination contain more heart, more subtle nuances and a greater sense of discovery than any family film released so far this year. If you can get through the opening few scenes without your heart melting then you are truly made of stone. Recommended.

Many years ago Carroll Ballard (little known that time) with already famous in that days Francis Ford Coppola created a stunning visual treat called The Black Stallion. Now more than twenty fives years later this exceptionally talented director (unfortunately I haven't seen his Fly Away Home) brought to us another terrific masterpiece, movie filled with beauty and love. This time it is a story of Xan, twelve or thirteen years old boy, who lives with his parents on their farm somewhere in the heart of South Africa. Their life is very close to what we can call harmony with outward things and particularly with wild nature. One day Xan with his father accidentally found on a road a helpless cheetah cub and since than Duma (they picked up such a name because Duma on Swahili means cheetah) became a part of the family. Soon bonds of friendship or love (depends on how you would call that) tie the boy and the animal but as wisely said Xan's father they can't breed Duma forever and some day they must set him free. However some unexpected obstacles forced them to move into a big city and after an accident in the school Xan realizes that the time has come and he must do something for his friend. So the adventure begins. I guess some people could find that hardly possible but than our heart tells us sometimes we can do things hardly explainable and the movie shows us that Xan is not a cosset city boy. He must travel through hundred of miles and many tests and finally he grow up during this adventure. Although there is nothing spoiled in Xan's character (there are obviously some similarities with Kelly Reno's Alec from mentioned The Black Stallion) throughout the movie we can see that he is just a more or less ordinary boy who is doing the things he believes in. And that's the most important here is somehow his innocence and pure heart is able to awake the best in people around him. This character is brought to life by Alex Michaletos, who was terrific playing such interesting and memorable character. This newcomer for hour and a half makes me feel sick about most of overrated today's Hollywood young stars. His performance is full of life and very believable all the time. Eamonn Walker (who plays Ripkuna, a mysterious man whom Xan meets in his journey) is a good and very suitable choice for that character. Among other decent supporting cast it is worth to mention Campbell Scott and Hope Davis as Xan's parents. The cinematography is excellent all over the movie from subtle shots on the farm to beautiful shots of wild savanna and desert. There is a feeling of harmony and some easy to feel beauty here. However it's quite important that the director always know sense of proportion and the movie never looks like a Discovery or Animal Planet show. One of the main heroes, the beautiful cat is also perfectly shot from different angles. Nice music with lots of thematic African elements excellently supplements all the rest. Duma is a very beautiful, intelligent and poignant movie about discovering, love, friendship and all positive in human beings. This message of the movie is quite simple. The beauty, love and human kindness still can save our world and this is worth fighting for. Unfortunately these values are not very common to modern Hollywood production. This movie didn't get a wide distribution with reasonable marketing campaign, which it definitely deserved (unfortunately in our commercialized world you hardly can sell anything without good marketing). In my personal opinion Duma is one of the very best motion pictures of the year, and the only second movie that earn my respect and got highest possible grade from me (the other one was Dear Frankie). Congratulations and my sincere gratitude to Warner Bros., Carroll Ballard and all people involved in making this spectacular masterpiece. I'm also so happy that I was able to watch Duma on English, not only a dubbed version (although this time it wasn't really bad). Thanks for reading.

Even when some people would like a story to be told the way they wanted, it's impossible to criticise someone else because his or her point of view. There is a comment that makes you feel uncomfortable on the appartheid issue. Sad to see that. This story is a well told one. Maybe not perfection, but I dare anyone to better it. The idea is beautiful. The performances, top notch, even when there are but two real ones. The cinematography is way out of our traditional American feature. Maybe this is one of the points that makes this story as compelling as The Black Stallion. Please, try to think you're not an American or someone who's been brain-designed by the American film industry. This is the kind of films I ENJOY with my kids, because they enjoy them, and don't feel treated like fools. Do I have a biased POV about American films? You got it! Not all of them, not all the time, but, yes, there's a deep and troubling cliché behind them. Even if you don't like stories about animals and kids, please, please! watch for the African scenery.

I put off seeing "Duma" (2005) because, even though I like an occasional animal movie, I didn't expect "Duma" to have any depth. I was happy to be proved wrong. I should have expected no less from director Carroll Ballard, who's known for other artistic and meaningful animal films, like "The Black Stallion" (1979) and "Never Cry Wolf" (1983). Another thing I was pleased to discover is that "Duma" is more of a survival adventure than a kid's animal flick. Yes, we have the kid's pet cheetah, and also an accidental pet bushbaby (or galago), but the film's more about the two main characters than the animals. The two characters happen to be Xan (short for Alexander), a South African boy who takes off from home to release his pet cheetah into the wild. The other character is Ripkuna (Eamonn Walker ), an African drifter trying to find out where he belongs in the world after some bad experiences. This relationship is the core of the picture. For a brief period of time these two stumble on to each other and it's a fortuitous meeting because they both have something the other needs, at least for the present. The cheetah, the galago and the other numerous animals are great too, as are the awesome African visuals (shot in South Africa and bordering Botswana), but it's Xan and Ripkuna's relationship that gives the film depth and makes it absorbing. This makes up for a couple of eye-rolling parts, like the part where Xan is saved from some bullies at school. So "Duma" provides the best of three worlds: amazing animals, awe-inspiring geography and some potent lessons to chew on. Add to this a notable diverse score by George Acogny & John Debney and you have a great or near-great animal film. The film runs 100 minutes. GRADE: B+ (7.5/10)

A boy and his father rescue an orphaned Cheetah in South Africa. They raise Duma with the intention of one day returning him to the wild. Unfortunately, the father dies and the mother decides they cannot remain on their farm and need to move to the city. But what of Duma? The cheetah is supposed to be transported to a game reserve but escapes and the boy, Xan, decides (very impulsively) to take off across the South African wilderness to take Duma to a place where it can be free. The problem is that Xan is an idiot...and the country HUGE and forbidding. And, because it's a family movie you know that somehow despite Nile Crocs, lions, hippos, poisonous snakes, starvation, dehydration and much more that somehow it will all work out in the end...that's just the sort of uplifting film this is. In so many ways, the movie reminds me of the Australian flick "Walkabout" but with a different locale. Both involve kids surviving in the wild as well as meeting up with folks who help them along their way. And, overall, I'd say the two films are about equal in appeal, though Xan was an incredibly impulsive and stupid boy. There also were a few parts that didn't make a lot of sense-- such as when he discovered food and civilization yet continued on his trek and the talky and preachy finale!

A lot of parents, myself included, enjoy movies and are constantly looking for something worthwhile to attend a theater and take our kids to. I prefer to enjoy the movie I've paid for and would rather be at least a little interested. Unfortunately the last few years have been extremely hard on parents; if we want to take our kids to movies we might as well sleep because the movie is going to insult our intelligence and have the kids repeating the most annoying catch phrases for the next week. I'd rather not and try to keep that kind of movie watching to a minimum or less. I found Duma by accident while I was looking through foreign films to be shown at Seattle's Northwest Film Forum. There they had a small summary of the film and I was curious to see if they were right. I took my husband and eight-year-old daughter to see Duma and was very pleased. Duma has the cute cat, a cute kid, loving parents, but also something more about growing up with a conscience and braving your environment to accomplish something great. I saw Black Beauty as a child and loved it. So tonight when I saw Duma I was surprised that the director Carroll Ballard also directed Fly Away Home another winner movie. This is the sort of film that makes you feel good as if you have watched Disney's White Fang. The previous reviewer mentioned that it was reminiscent of Walkabout; another good film. But how many films do we get to see a realistic Africa in? If the Disney company could take a lesson and hire intelligent directors like Carroll Ballard and I wouldn't have to screen the critics before going to the movies--boy that would be nice. I'm also grateful to Roger Ebert for recommending this film and making Warner Brothers take notice that the film they were ready to shelf is worth more than they give it credit for. My daughter cried, and laughter and said she really liked this film. I feel the same way, but on so many more levels. Kudos to everyone who worked on this film to make it worth substance!

I read Roger Ebert's review of this movie, in it he said that this was not a kid's movie but slanted towards adults. Well, ha ha, I don't know about that. Supposedly based on a true story, this kid, (Alex Michaletos) takes a cheetah (duma) and tries to return him to the wilds. First off, cheetahs are not the most endearing animal on this planet. For one thing they are as skinny as a fashion model and have a sort of perpetual dumb look on their face. The director, Carroll Ballard, who also did The Black Stallion, provides no surprises in this movie. It is very predictable. The kid is cuter than the freckled faced actor in the Black Stallion. However the horse(s) in that movie had a lot more personality. Alex does have this whiny high voice and one can only hope that puberty is just around the corner. Unfortunately, the movie really is aimed at kids and not really adult fare. However, I did not fall asleep during it and the sound track is great, which if I can find it, I will buy it. Maybe cheetahs would be better off in zoos where they could be fed and could get fat.

An exquisite film that weaves a compelling tale of friendship and loss of a family member without pulling any punches. The characters all act in a believable fashion and have more depth than in many such films. Each character is driven by their own motives -- not always honorable. The camera work brings alive the scenery and the animals without being overdone. Each shot is well chosen and suited to the story. The direction and editing are crisp and effective. This film deserves a wider distribution as it is far superior to much of the family fare out there and deals with real issues. If its in your neighborhood, get out and see it.

Our family saw Duma yesterday and we loved it so much, I had to place our vote today! Congratulations to Carroll Ballard, Warner Brothers and everyone else responsible for creating such a beautifully filmed movie with an equally as wonderful story! Duma is a must see for children; it sure beats most everything else out today in terms of story quality! The cinematography was incredible and all scenes involving animals were wonderfully done. I hope that big studios bring us more movies of this caliber for family entertainment. I for one, and hopefully not the only one, am tired of special effects carrying a movie as well as heroes and villains that are way too out of the ordinary.

Usually I really love animal movies. Used to as a kid, still do. But this one made me angry. Yes! ANGRY! I'll tell you why: The basic story of rescuing a wild animal is a well known one. Keeping those as pets, is something we have seen before too. As much as this is a very debatable subject- i'm willing to go with it, if the characters act genuine, loving or aware of the consequences. However this people are the worst main characters I've ever seen in a movie like this. 15 min in i was so angry about their behavior, there was no way to enjoy the rest of the movie. Surely there is nice imagery and my respects to the animal trainers. But all this is lost, by sending the wrong message to viewers (which is): animals are toys. pick them up at street, take them home, not even thinking about their actual nature and throw in a "they should be in the wild" in the ending. No, just no. The father loses barely 2 sentences about returning Duma to the wild, but they never do. They never even try to prepare him. They simply keep him like a normal pet. Only after they incident at school they boy is ready to set him free. Which, BTW, is the most unlikeable kid character and actor ever. Free Willy wasn't perfect either, but it moved a lot of people. What kind of story is this movie supposed to send? Pick up endangered animals whenever you like, as long as you put them back whenever you like. If it's going to be an adventure -even better.