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Duma
2005 100 min South Africa, United States of America PG 0+
★7.7
Adventure, Drama, Family
Director: Carroll Ballard
🎭 Based on
«How It Was with Dooms»
byXan Hopcraft
Trailers
Description
An orphaned cheetah becomes the best friend and pet of a young boy living in South Africa.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$870,067
Worldwide:
$995,000
Starring
Alex Michaeletos
Actor
Campbell Scott
Actor
Hope Davis
Actor
Awards
1 win total
Key opinion
Duma is widely regarded as a visually stunning and emotionally resonant family adventure that excels at portraying the bond between a boy and his cheetah. While some critics praise its sincerity and naturalistic performances, others feel the narrative is formulaic and lacks the creative spark of director Carroll Ballard's earlier works.
| Emotion | The film succeeds as a heartfelt exploration of loyalty, responsibility, and the profound, transformative bond between a child and a wild animal. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography captures the beauty of the South African landscape, using sunlit scenery to create a vivid and immersive backdrop for the journey. | |
| Production | The film utilizes authentic animal work, effectively showcasing the cheetah’s behavior to anchor the narrative in a realistic, nature-documentary style. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Alexander Michaletos’ performance are split; some find his natural, understated portrayal deeply sincere, while others describe it as wooden and lacking emotional range. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is a point of contention; supporters appreciate the contemplative, steady tempo of the journey, whereas critics find the slow development to be tedious and lacking in excitement. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by some as a touching, classic coming-of-age story, while others dismiss it as an unoriginal and overly moralizing family drama. |