Genre: Adventure
Runtime: 100 minutes
Starring: Hope Davis, Campbell Scott, Alex Michaeletos, Emonn Walker and Nthabiseng Kenoshi. Directed by Carroll Ballard
Duma - Guide Review
When you give something a name, it becomes your responsibility. A young boy named Xan and his father find a lost baby cheetah, and this becomes Xan’s creed. He names his cheetah Duma. Knowing that someday Duma would have to return to his home in the wild does not stop Xan from putting his whole heart and soul into raising the cub, and inevitably the two become best friends.
The day finally comes when Xan’s father tells him they must take Duma home, but before they are able to make the trip, tragedy strikes. Xan’s father passes away, leaving his mother with no choice but to move the family to the city and give Duma to a wildlife reserve.
Heartbroken and lost, Xan makes the decision to carry out his father’s original plan for Duma, and the two set out into the wilds of Africa alone. Xan’s father left him a wealth of knowledge and survival skills, a motorcycle, and a map, but against the treacherous odds of the African wild, poachers, and others who may have malicious intent, this may not be enough. Despite these odds, Xan is unwavering in his determination to carry out his responsibility.
Duma is filled with beautiful and daunting images of the animals that inhabit Africa. Both the story and the footage are captivating. Xan’s courage, driven by honor and grief, motivates the moving journey that brings him closure and allows him to let go.
Duma - Note to Parents
Duma portrays an adventurous story with places and animals that will fascinate kids, but there are also several scenes that will be frightening and intense to young children. Xan and Duma find themselves in several perilous situations with other wild animals, but they are not hurt. Also, Xan travels with a wanderer whose intentions are not always clear, and in one scene the man is attacked by a swarm of flies, causing him to swell up and have trouble breathing. Throughout the movie, several weapons are shown including a few guns, a knife, and a spear.
Duma - Talk About the Movie With Your Family
- Xan goes off on his own into the African wild without permission and without much preparation. Was this wise? If this had been real life, and not a movie, could Xan have succeeded on his own?
- In the movie, some animals hunt and eat other animals. How does the food chain work in nature? What is man's responsibility to nature?
