A single American woman living in Italy with her
six-year-old son experiences the tragedies and
epiphanies of life as a human on Earth and writes
about them. "I Dreamed of Africa" is the biographical
drama of Kuki Gallmann's writings put to film.
Quickly sketching Kuki's life in Italy, the
picture provides no prior information about her; in
fact, it wasn't until three-quarters into the
sequence that I realized what country we were in. The
Italian unit had other problems: abrupt editing,
inappropriate music, severely misaligned voice-lip
sync (the presentation sounded as if it had been
dubbed into English), and the graceless capture of
Kim Basinger's acting at its worst.
Fortunately, the production soon moves to Africa
... Kenya, to be specific (with some shooting done in
South Africa as well). Though visual joys of this
vibrant country are portrayed, mostly in the sweeping
landscapes and aerial photography of elephants,
wildebeest and camels (I didn't know camels roamed
Kenya); the majority of the film's attentions were on
the uncertainties, dangers and ultimate price of
living in a wilder environment.
I've enjoyed Kim Basinger in the past; she's a
moderately talented actress whose marvelous beauty
hasn't been impeded by age. However, either this film
fails to snare her best performances or she's just
not main character material.
The writing itself is a bit immature, lavishing in
the cliché: "I've never been here and yet I feel
as though I've returned." While the ending narration
tends toward the presumptuous, as Kuki "Looks after
Africa" via conservation propaganda.
What the film does best is depict the
unpredictable rhythm and dangerous allure of Africa.
Having spent a year in Kenya myself, I enjoyed the
nostalgia. Still, this experience could have been
improved by doubling the usage of the fantastic,
indigenous, vocal music available and by deepening
the relationships between ex-pats and locals.
Though the film focuses on Kuki's loves and
losses, the most passionately endearing moments of
the film involve Simon, her African assistant (a
character who, unfortunately, sees little screen
time).
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