Duma (2005 film)

Last updated
Duma
Dumaposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Carroll Ballard
Written byKaren Janszen
Mark St. Germain
Story by Carol Flint
Karen Janszen
Based on How It Was with Dooms
by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft
Produced by John Wells
Hunt Lowry
E.K. Gaylord II
Kristin Harms
Stacy Cohen
Starring Alexander Michaletos
Eamonn Walker
Campbell Scott
Hope Davis
Narrated by Alexander Michaletos
CinematographyWerner Maritz
Edited byT.M. Christopher
Music byGeorge Acogny
John Debney
Production
companies
Gaylord Films
John Wells Productions
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
April 22, 2005
Running time
100 minutes
Countries United States, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia
Language English
Budget$12 million
Box office$994,790 (worldwide)

Duma is a 2005 American family drama adventure film about a young South African boy's friendship with an orphaned cheetah, [1] based on How It Was with Dooms by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft. It was directed by Carroll Ballard and stars Alexander Michaletos in his only film role, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott and Hope Davis. [2] [3] This was Carroll Ballard's final film before his retirement.

Contents

The film was theatrically released on April 22, 2005, by Warner Bros. Pictures, Gaylord Films and C.O.R.E. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, but Warner Bros only gave the film a small release around the world (including a limited theatrical release in the US), [4] resulting in earning $994,790 in worldwide box office. The film won the Family Feature Film at the Genesis Awards in 2006.

Plot

Set in the country of South Africa, the story begins with a cheetah cub being orphaned after his mother was killed by lions. The cub is found on the side of the road by a young boy named Xan (Alexander Michaeletos) and his father Peter (Campbell Scott). Initially reluctant to take in a wild animal, Peter agrees to let Xan take care of the cub. They name him "Duma", the Swahili name for cheetah. Over the years, Duma becomes a part of the family, being closely raised by Xan. As he nears adulthood, Peter and Xan decide to teach Duma how to run by having him chase alongside Peter's motorcycle, which can barely keep up with him. But with Duma almost fully grown, to Xan's dismay, his father tells him that it is time to take his friend to his real home before he grows too old to survive in his native habitat. His father says to Xan, "Duma has to live the life he was born to—or he'll never be fully alive."

Xan reluctantly agrees, but their plans are put on hold when his father suddenly falls ill and dies and Xan and his mother (Hope Davis) must move to Johannesburg. Duma comes with them, which wreaks havoc on their life in the city. Xan's aunt is terrified of Duma, who likes to sneak up and surprise her, and when Duma escapes and pays a disastrous visit to Xan's school, the two of them must flee the city to keep Duma from being put into captivity. Not knowing where to go, Xan gets an idea—he'll carry out the plan his dad had outlined, taking Duma home in the neighboring country of Botswana, over the scorching Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, through the Okavango Delta and into the Erongo Mountains.

Xan begins to drive to his destination in his father's old motorcycle, with Duma in the sidecar. After running out of fuel and water in the grasslands, they find some shade underneath a crashed airplane. There, they are confronted by Ripkuna (Eamonn Walker), a mysterious drifter on a journey of his own. While Xan isn't at all that sure he can trust Rip, he agrees to go with him. Xan manages to turn the immobile motorcycle into a desert sailboat out of a parachute from the plane wreck. The trio make their way until they encounter the untraversable scrub brush of the Kalahari Desert and must abandon the motorcycle. While trying to find shelter, Rip is trapped in an abandoned diamond mine by a cave in, and Xan decides to leave him, as he suspects that he has been leading him to town instead of the jungle to sell Duma and collect a reward for finding him. However, when Duma is caught in a trap and Xan is knocked unconscious by a boar, Rip rescues both of them, having escaped the mine through a ventilation shaft.

Soon, they reach the Okavango Delta, where Xan is attacked by the deadly wildlife and the churning rapids of the Thamalakane River, but it's too late for him to turn back now. Xan, Rip and Duma press through the Okavango, and finally the Erongo Mountains, on the border of Botswana and Namibia are in sight. However, once they get there, Xan is suddenly set upon by a swarm of tsetse flies. To protect him from their lethal bite, Rip huddles over Xan and is bitten by hundreds of flies. He soon develops sleeping sickness, and Xan takes him to a nearby village where he can be cared for; it is soon revealed that those taking care of him are actually his own family. Later that night, outside the village, Duma is out on his own and starts calling out into the mountains. Duma finds another cheetah calling to him, and they bond rather quickly. It is never explained whether this is another male cheetah, or is in fact one of Duma's siblings. Xan hears this activity, and realizes that this is where he and Duma must part. Xan says goodbye to Duma, and Duma comes to Xan and says a final goodbye, and goes back to play with his new friend. Xan returns to Rip in the village. Before the credits, it shows Xan being reunited with his mother.

Cast

Production

Development, casting and filming

On August 5, 2002, it was announced that Carroll Ballard was hired and set to direct Duma based on How It Was with Dooms by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft. Karen Janszen and Mark St. Germain wrote the script for the film. Stacy Cohen, E.K. Gaylord II, Kristin Harms, Hunt Lowry and John Wells produced the film with the budget of $12 million for release in 2005. On September 7, 2003, it was announced that Alexander Michaletos, Eamonn Walker, Campbell Scott and Hope Davis joined the film. On January 2, 2004, it was announced that John Debney would compose the music for the film. The final score was co-composed by John Debney and George Acogny.

Filming of the film was completed in Botswana and South Africa. On 11 January, Warner Bros. Pictures, Gaylord Films and C.O.R.E. acquired distribution rights to the film. The film was shot mostly in South Africa, though some of the film is set in neighbouring Botswana. [5] One of the five cheetahs that stars in the film resided in Kragga Kamma Game Park in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa until its death in November 2011. There were five adult cheetahs: Anthony, Azaro, Nikita, Sasha, and Savannah, along with one Cheetah cub: Sheba. Duma is played by six different cheetahs. All orphaned or poached cheetahs themselves, they were hand-raised in different parts of Africa.

Music

George Acogny and John Debney scored the music for the film. The film's soundtrack also contains “Rhaliweni (Railway)” performed by Sun Glen, “Share It With Me” written and performed by Ayub Ogada and Ishmael Pamphille, “A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You” written by Joseph Meyer, Billy Rose and Al Dubin, “Breakfast” written by Carl Stalling, “Kaboyi, Kaboyi (Woodpecker)” performed by Nana, “Just Having a Party” performed by the Fabulous Fantoms, “Umlolozelo A Lullaby” performed by Neo Muyanga and Brother Clement Sithole, “When You're Falling” performed by Afro Celt Sound System (as The Afro Celt Sound System) with Peter Gabriel and “Into the Light” performed by the World Beaters and Ayub Ogada.

Soundtrack

Duma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score / Soundtrack album by
Various artists, George Acogny and John Debney
ReleasedNovember 8, 2005
Recorded2005
Genre Film score
Soundtrack album
Length40:46
Label Varèse Sarabande
Producer Various artists
George Acogny
John Debney
George Acogny and John Debney film scores chronology
Playing for Keeps
(1986)
Duma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2005)
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
(2005)
Singles from Duma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  1. "Kaboyi, Kaboyi (Woodpecker)"
    Released: 2005

Duma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film's soundtrack album and film score made by Various artists, George Acogny and John Debney and it was released on November 8, 2005, by Varèse Sarabande. None of the first 9 songs below are on the Varese Sarabande release. The score features the wailing woman motif. [6]

Soundtrack list

  • Rhaliweni (Railway) - Performed by Sun Glen
  • Share It With Me - Written and Performed by Ayub Ogada and Ishmael Pamphille
  • A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You - Written by Joseph Meyer, Billy Rose and Al Dubin
  • Breakfast - Written by Carl Stalling
  • Kaboyi, Kaboyi (Woodpecker) - Performed by Nana
  • Just Having a Party - Performed by the Fabulous Fantoms
  • Umlolozelo a Lullaby - Performed by Neo Muyanga and Brother Clement Sithole
  • When You're Falling - Performed by Afro Celt Sound System (as The Afro Celt Sound System) with Peter Gabriel
  • Into The Light - Performed by the World Beaters and Ayub Ogada
  • Phiry - The Bird Songs
  • Duma Orphaned
  • Cute Kitten Montage
  • Dad Sick
  • Move to City
  • At School
  • Coming Home
  • Pushing Motorcycle
  • Land Yacht
  • Leaving Rip
  • Duma Sees Crocs
  • Land Yacht Remix
  • Croc River
  • Change
  • Freedom
  • Goodnight
  • Run to Village
  • Xan and Duma Say *Goodbye
  • Issa Lullaby

Release

Theatrical

Duma had tested badly and Warner Bros. planned to not release this film in the United States theatrically, but Scott Foundas wrote a rave review for the film in Variety and it led Warner Bros to reconsider. [7] Warner Bros. finally gave Duma a limited theatrical release in the US. [8]

Reception

Critical response

Duma went on receiving very positive reviews from critics; the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 95% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 61 reviews; [9] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 82 out of 100, based on 21 reviews. [10]

Box office

The film made $870,067 at the North American box office and $124,723 in other territories, making its worldwide box office total $994,790, making it a failure at the box office. [11]

Awards

AwardCategoryNominee
Genesis Award Family Feature FilmWon

Home media

Duma was released on DVD on May 16, 2006, by Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afro Celt Sound System</span> British world music band

Afro Celt Sound System are a European and African group who fuse electronic music with traditional Gaelic and West African music. Afro Celt Sound System were formed in 1995 by producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson, and feature a wide range of guest artists. In 2003, they temporarily changed their name to Afrocelts before reverting to their original name.

<i>The Lost Boys</i> 1987 American horror film

The Lost Boys is a 1987 American supernatural comedy horror film directed by Joel Schumacher, produced by Harvey Bernhard with a screenplay written by Jeffrey Boam, Janice Fischer and James Jeremias, from a story by Fischer and Jeremias. The film's ensemble cast includes Corey Feldman, Jami Gertz, Corey Haim, Edward Herrmann, Barnard Hughes, Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland and Dianne Wiest.

<i>Outland</i> (film) 1981 film by Peter Hyams

Outland is a 1981 science fiction thriller film written and directed by Peter Hyams and starring Sean Connery, Peter Boyle and Frances Sternhagen.

<i>Looney Tunes: Back in Action</i> 2003 film by Joe Dante

Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a 2003 American live-action/animated comedy film produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the second theatrical feature film in the Looney Tunes franchise, and was directed by Joe Dante from a screenplay by Larry Doyle. Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, and Steve Martin star in the film; Timothy Dalton, Heather Locklear, and Bill Goldberg appear in supporting roles, while Joe Alaskey leads the voice cast. Its plot, which parodies action and spy film conventions, follows Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as they become intertwined in a plot by the ACME Chairman (Martin) to transform the world's population into subservient monkeys using the Blue Monkey diamond. They accompany aspiring stuntman DJ Drake (Fraser) and Warner Bros. executive Kate Houghton (Elfman) on their journey to thwart the Chairman's plot, which doubles as a mission to rescue the former's abducted father, Damian (Dalton).

<i>The Wild Thornberrys Movie</i> 2002 American film directed by Jeff McGrath and Cathy Malkasian

The Wild Thornberrys Movie is a 2002 American animated fantasy adventure film based on the television series of the same name. It was produced by Klasky Csupo and distributed by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Directed by Jeff McGrath and Cathy Malkasian, the film follows the show's protagonist, Eliza Thornberry as she goes on a quest to save a cheetah cub from ruthless poachers. The film was released on December 20, 2002, to mostly positive reviews and grossed more than $60 million worldwide. It is the first installment in the The Wild Thornberrys film series.

Carroll Ballard is a retired American film director. He has directed six feature films, including The Black Stallion (1979), Never Cry Wolf (1983), Fly Away Home (1996) and Duma (2005).

Job Seda, better known as Ayub Ogada, was a Kenyan singer. He was a singer favoring the nyatiti as his characteristic instrument. His music is known to have a natural feel to it, having songs of birds, the calls of animals and the sounds of children playing in the background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dhol Foundation</span> Musical artist

The Dhol Foundation is both a dhol drum institute in London and a musical group. The dhol school was founded in 1989 by former Alaap member Johnny Kalsi when several musicians asked him to be their teacher, and a first album was released by Kalsi and his students in 2001.

Alexander Michaletos is a South African former child actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police Academy Stunt Show</span>

Police Academy Stunt Show or Loca Academia de Policía is a slapstick comedy stunt show located at Parque Warner Madrid. Formerly, the show was also at Warner Bros. Movie World (1991–2008), Six Flags Magic Mountain (1994), and Warner Bros. Movie World Germany (1996–2004).

<i>Eye of the Leopard</i> 2006 American film

Eye of the Leopard is a 2006 National Geographic documentary directed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Set in the Mombo region of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, the film explores the life of a female leopard, Legadema, as she matures from a cub to an adult. Jeremy Irons, voice actor of Scar from Disney's 1994 animation The Lion King, narrates the film. It premiered in the US on the National Geographic Channel on October 8, 2006, and has won many awards including the BBC wildscreen Panda award for Best Sound Wild Screen and an Emmy. Since the success of the film, a book and an app of the same title have been released.

Jerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Michael Jackson's Thriller, Rock with You, "Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough", "Workin’ Day and Night" and the flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit "Longer". Additionally, he has performed with artists such as George Benson, Nik Kershaw, Al Jarreau, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, George Duke, Lionel Richie, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Yumi Matsutoya, among many others.

<i>Cheetah</i> (1989 film) 1989 film by Jeff Blyth

Cheetah, also known as Cheetah and Friends, is a 1989 American family drama film from Walt Disney Pictures starring Keith Coogan and Lucy Deakins. This motion picture was loosely based on Alan Caillou's novel The Cheetahs. It was shot in Nairobi, Kenya. This motion picture features the phrase "Hakuna matata" which became famous when Disney released The Lion King five years later.

<i>Valentines Day</i> (2010 film) Romantic comedy film by Garry Marshall

Valentine's Day is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. The screenplay and the story were written by Katherine Fugate, Abby Kohn, and Marc Silverstein. The film features an ensemble cast led by Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Héctor Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Bryce Robinson, and Taylor Swift in her film acting debut. It tells different love stories that occur on Valentine's day.

Banjo Timothy Mosele is a guitarist, singer and composer born in Kanye, Botswana.

Soothsayers are a London-based band who performs and records original Afrobeat and reggae-influenced music. Formed in 1998 by saxophonist Idris Rahman and trumpeter Robin Hopcraft, they have released five studio albums and a number of vinyl singles on their own label Red Earth Records.

<i>Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle</i> 2018 film directed by Andy Serkis

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is a 2018 adventure drama film directed by Andy Serkis with a screenplay by Callie Kloves, based on stories collected in All the Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling. The film stars Rohan Chand, Matthew Rhys, and Freida Pinto, along with voice and motion-capture performances from Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris, and Serkis. In the film, an orphaned human boy who was raised by wolves, sets out on a journey to find a human village while evading Shere Khan.

<i>CHiPs</i> (film) 2017 film by Dax Shepard

CHiPs is a 2017 American buddy cop action comedy film written and directed by Dax Shepard, based on the 1977–1983 television series of the same name created by Rick Rosner. The film stars Shepard as Officer Jon Baker and Michael Peña as Frank "Ponch" Poncherello, with Rosa Salazar, Adam Brody and Vincent D'Onofrio in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeast African cheetah</span> Subspecies of carnivore

The Southeast African cheetah is the nominate cheetah subspecies native to East and Southern Africa. The Southern African cheetah lives mainly in the lowland areas and deserts of the Kalahari, the savannahs of Okavango Delta, and the grasslands of the Transvaal region in South Africa. In Namibia, cheetahs are mostly found in farmlands. In India, four cheetahs of the subspecies are living in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after having been introduced there.

<i>Magic Mikes Last Dance</i> 2023 American film by Steven Soderbergh

Magic Mike's Last Dance is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Reid Carolin, and produced by Channing Tatum. It is the third and final installment in the Magic Mike trilogy, following Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). The film stars Tatum as the titular retired male stripper, who leaves Florida for London to help a socialite produce a stage play.

References

  1. "In 'Duma,' journey to the wild rings true - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  2. "Duma". Time Out London. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  3. "'Duma': A Boy and a Cheetah". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  4. McClintock, Pamela (September 22, 2005). "Inside Move: 'Duma' producer pays pic's way to Gotham". Variety . Reed Business Information . Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  5. "Duma (2005): About This Film". Hollywood Jesus. April 23, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  6. Dave Roos (May 25, 2004). "Wail watching". Salon.com . Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. Greenberg, James (July 31, 2005). "Carroll Ballard's Second Chance". The New York Times . Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  8. McClintock, Pamela (September 22, 2005). "Inside Move: 'Duma' producer pays pic's way to Gotham". Variety . Reed Business Information . Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  9. "Duma (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  10. "Duma reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  11. "Duma (2005)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved July 10, 2010.