“I dreamed of Africa” is the true story of internationally acclaimed writer and conservationist Kuki Gallmann. After surviving a terrible car crash, she moved to Kenya in the 1970s and has been living there since then. The Kenyan wildlife has claimed what many would the ultimate price for a wife and a mother: the lives of both her husband and son. She remains on a cattle range on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in northern Kenya where she and her husband founded one of the first ever anti poaching squads to protect the population Black Rhinos in East Africa. The movie is based on her autobiographical story. Kim Basinger plays the role of Kuki Gallmann and Vincent Perez was cast for the role of Kuki’s husband, Paolo.
The movie had the prospect of a good movie but failed to achieve its purpose despite having an amazing cast and a well-known director, Hugh Hudson. It is a shame because the story is wonderful and inspiring: Kim Basinger is at her best and the script is both emotional and pragmatic. I think the problem with this movie is that it tries to cover a very wide range of events in less than two hours. As the action unfolds over a little more than ten years, the script jumps from one instance to another, from one year to another. As a result, I, as a viewer, fail to care for the characters. because I did not get to trully know them at any one point in time. I did not get engaged with the movie despite depicting scenes from a country that I am deeply emotionally attached to. Moreover, it fails to capture the excitement, the buzz, the culture and the intensity of the country. While I recognize some of the amazing things Kenya has to offer – spectacular views, exciting wildlife and caring people – it does not manage to capture the intensity of life in Kenya. I don’t think this is necessarily a problem of the script, but rather one that has to do with the choice of not making the movie longer, more detailed and more cohesive.
Lastly, the movie has the great disadvantage of coming out after “Out of Africa” with a similar story and from a similar perspective. Everyone who watched that movie and decides to watch this one as well will notice the shortcomings.
Why watch the movie?
The movie has an inspirational tone and it tells a good story. Kuki Gallmann is a model for those of us who love Africa. She succeeded despite having to pay a very high price. And she never gave up on her dream. She did not run after Kenya claimed the life of her husband and son. When watching the movie, I sincerely realized, one more time, how lucky I really am.
Moreover, the movie raises awareness with respect to some of the pressing current events and challenges the Kenyan state faces: violence, poaching and lack of personal safety.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d give this movie a 6 / 10
Movie trailer
