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I Dreamed of Africa (2000)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:87
Fresh:8
Rotten:79
Average Rating:3.6/10
Consensus: The straightforward retelling of Kuki Gallman's life in Africa neither moves or entertains the viewer.
Synopsis: Based on the book of the same name, I DREAMED OF AFRICA is the true story of Kuki Gallman (Kim Basinger), a wealthy Italian socialite whose life changes abruptly after a near fatal car crash.... Based on the book of the same name, I DREAMED OF AFRICA is the true story of Kuki Gallman (Kim Basinger), a wealthy Italian socialite whose life changes abruptly after a near fatal car crash. Vowing to appreciate her life more deeply, she agrees to marry Paolo Gallman (Vincent Perez), a man she does not know well, and sets off with her young son, Emmanuelle (Liam Aiken), for a new life in the countryside of Kenya. A cattle ranch in the Lakipani region of Kenya becomes the Gallmans' new home, far away from the creature comforts of their posh household in Italy. Kuki is beset with the daily challenges of life in Africa, including harsh weather, dangerous animals, and the absence of her husband, who spends days away hunting with his new friends. Forced to face many challenges alone, Kuki experiences a cultural awakening, inspired by an intense and emotional connection to the land, animals, and rhythm of Africa. Finding her new purpose in life, Kuki becomes an activist for endangered African animals, most notably elephants and rhinoceroses. Her resulting battles with those opposing her ideas provide the greatest conflicts in this inspiring and lyrical film that features an impassioned performance by Basinger. Director Hugh Hudson effectively captures the breathtaking beauty of both the African landscape and the animals that Kuki dedicated her life to help save. [More]
Starring: Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Eva Marie Saint, Liam Aiken
Starring: Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Eva Marie Saint, Liam Aiken, Allison Daugherty Smith, Robert Loggia
Director: Hugh Hudson
Director: Hugh Hudson
Screenwriter: Paula Milne, Susan Shilliday
Producer: Stanley R. Jaffe, Allyn Stewart
Composer: Maurice Jarre
Reviews for I Dreamed of Africa
This truth-based account of the life of Italian environmentalist Kuki Gallmann is astonishingly bereft of dramatic momentum.
In I Dreamed Of Africa, the story-telling is not just problematic, it's crushingly dull and painfully laboured.
The rambling narrative has no point, except to neaten up the details of -- and eliminate everything interesting in -- Kuki's life.
As a book adaptation, the story feels strangely abridged, as if the screenplay is based on every other page of the book, willy-nilly.
Moviegoers looking for exotic scenery and a good cry may find the picture enjoyable.
Similarly anesthetized, director Hugh Hudson keeps the movie rambling and episodic.
Kenya is portrayed as a sort of rough resort, and the thorny questions behind issues like conservationism vs. cultural insensitivity don't get looked into.
What must have been gripping in the book somehow got lost in the translation to screen.
With such good raw material, you have to wonder why the screenplay, direction and dialogue are so flat.
Kim Basinger has selected an honest attempt to demarcate actress-defining moments. Unfortunately, she has chosen…poorly.
Pic's lack of dramatic rhythm and narrative continuity is exacerbated by Scott Thomas' rough editing.
When the characters' minds and motivations are frustratingly closed off to us, all we're left with is the dim hope that something adventurous will happen instead. And when it doesn't, there's no hope left at all.
Don't Europeans ever get tired of swooping down to Africa to exploit its peoples and natural resources? Apparently not.
An unfocused, disconnected series of arbitrary episodes that never develop any dramatic unity or emotional punch.
Shows how our multileveled relationship with a place can be spiritual — adding a depth and richness to all our days.
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