Duma (Full Screen Edition)

For me, Duma is the best of Carroll Ballard's films, and it has become one of my personal favorites of all time. Shot on location in Botswana, this film is truly - in the words of Manohla Dargis of the New York Times - "soulful, piercingly beautiful."Coupla things......the film claims to be based on the book "How it was with Dooms" by Xan Hopcraft and Carol Cawthra Hopcraft. (I purchased the book shortly after I saw Duma for the first time a few years ago. This book deserves a read, it is absolutely fantastic, but I can no longer get the version that I have which is a beautifully bound paperback in color. If you order the book on Amazon it will be the black and white version and it is awful. You would need to order it through Barnes and Noble, they have the color version but it is poorly bound.) It is the true story of a family who live on a farm outside of Nairobi and adopt an orphaned cheetah they name "Dooms". He is so tame he chooses to live with them until his death years later. Xan writes his memoir of growing up with Dooms who is already part of the family when Xan is born. His recollections are through the eyes of a young boy. It is precious, and the photos are astounding.The film, Duma, is inspired by the book, but they changed most of the story. The family lives on a farm in South Africa, and Xan is 12 when he and his father adopt an orphaned cheetah cub they find by the side of the road one night. Duma lives with them until he is almost full grown. Most of the film is the story of Xan's long journey with perilous adventures through the African landscape - which includes crossing the Okavango River - taking Duma back to where they found him so he can live the life he was born to. Along the way Xan meets a wanderer named Ripkuna and his Bush Baby, and they share the adventures together. The cinematography is exquisite, and Ballard's touch makes you feel as if you are right there, nuzzling with Duma, keeping lions at bay with a good fire, racing through the rapids to beat the crocodiles, or just cruising down the river in the canoe at sunset, catching glimpses of hippos, elephants and giraffes.Campbell Scott appears briefly in the beginning of the film as Xan's father. The true stars of the film are Alexander Michaletos who plays Xan, Eammon Walker who plays Ripkuna, and Anthony, the cheetah. Recently I Googled Michaletos and discovered that he grew up at The Farm Inn in Pretoria, South Africa, a hotel and wildlife sanctuary with 23 species of animals, so he was perfect in the part! They even have a cheetah breeding program there -- and Anthony! Guests can visit with Anthony and have their photos taken with him! He's tame as toast. You can find the Inn on Facebook.Amazing what a little movie can do. Duma has not only brought me, my family and many of my friends a lot of joy as a film, we are now planning our own adventure to travel 8,000 miles to visit The Farm Inn and Anthony in the next year!

Lovely movie! Love cheetahs and this film highlights their importance.

...family movie. period. well written story. My 10 yr old son picked this for movie night and we both agree with the rating.

Loved this movie as a kid and got it back

Beautifully shot, and generally very well acted story of a boy and acheetah he saves when he finds the orphaned cub.Most of the film is the boy's journey to return the cub to nature afterhis own father"s death, and his adventures along the way, including hiscomplex relationship with a black native African who at first seemsthreatening, but ends up his savior.I found it a tiny bit over familiar and sentimental, but also touchingand well done.It just doesn't quite hold up to Carroll Ballard's earlier human/animalfilms; The Black Stallion, Never Cry Wolf, and Fly Away Home. If youhaven't yet seen those, start there to see Ballard's amazing work.

I saw it on a plane returning from Africa. It’s very loosely based on a true story. Not animated. While it did not fare well at the theater in 2005/2006 I never even heard of it back then. I’ve recommended it to my son and family, and to my fellow grandparents to eat with their grandkids.

Love this movie about a young lad and his cheetah.

Duma is on my personal list of favorite movies, I love it! It's also my favorite Carroll Ballard film. I love The Black Stallion too but love this one a little more. Duma is one cool cat! Love to watch him run. Perfectly clean film with nothing inappropriate (just an off screen death and the sadness associated with that). I liked the friendship that develops between Xan and Rip. This film has a charm about it that I love; like the scene toward the end of their journey together where Rip rests his hat on Duma's head resulting in them both cracking up laughing! The scene with Duma running alongside the motorcycle is also done beautifully. My daughter loved this film and most likely, so will your kids.