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I Dreamed of Africa

Play trailer Poster for I Dreamed of Africa PG-13 2000 1h 54m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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10% Tomatometer 102 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Inspired by the true story of indomitable Kuki Gallmann, the film tells of a beautiful and inquisitive woman who had the courage to escape from her comfortable yet monotonous life in Italy to start anew in the African wilderness with her son, Emanuele, and her new husband, Paolo. Gallmann faces great danger there but eventually becomes a celebrated conservationist.
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I Dreamed of Africa

I Dreamed of Africa

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Critics Consensus

The straightforward retelling of Kuki Gallman's life in Africa neither moves or entertains the viewer.

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Critics Reviews

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Desmond Ryan Philadelphia Inquirer 07/23/2014
2.5/4
I Dreamed of Africa boasts the majestic landscapes and wildlife that explain why anyone would be spellbound by the place. But the story is fitfully episodic and the jerky editing doesn't help a bit. Go to Full Review Paul West Seattle Times 07/23/2014
2/4
It's neither epic enough to fulfill a grand scope, nor intimate enough to be an overpowering emotional experience. Go to Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 07/23/2014
This film, based on a true story, transcends its handsomeness to present a subtle portrait of a woman's growing consciousness. Go to Full Review Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) 11/01/2022
2.5/4
I Dreamed of Africa is a rarity: A true story that isn't nearly as interesting as the fictional shows on neighboring screens. Maybe that's because the story behind the story never emerges. Go to Full Review Paula Farmer Metro Times (Detroit, MI) 07/23/2014
1/5
I Dreamed of Africa fails on so many levels that it's hard to even give it credit for the one area in which it excels. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lori M 09/08/2024 I was taken on an epic journey through the authentic portrayal by Kim Basinger & all the supporting cast. I found it to be quite moving & a truly epic film. Ms. Basinger laid herself bare to convey such an emotionally charged & heartfelt performance to us. See more Genevieve P 02/10/2024 Great Movie!! Great acting. Full of emotion. Love Kim Basinger! 🌹 See more Sean S 04/30/2023 The baseball part of this movie is fun and entertaining, But the love story is lacking. Although Costner gives a good performance on the mound, the love story acting isn't the greatest. See more Steve D 02/10/2023 Likely to make you dream too, after it puts you to sleep. See more 08/12/2019 Great story but very sad See more 02/21/2019 The film reimagines a 1970's memoir narrative through an early 2000's lens. Comfy soundtrack and sprawling location shots give a good sense of place. While the cheesy acting and slow pacing may be off-putting to some viewers it has a classic exoticism aesthetic redeployed for the new millennium. The (speaking native language) subtitles are cringey and there are lot of campy moments that could have been avoided with some attention to detail and realism. 50 million dollars was far too much money to spend making a movie of this quality but I can appreciate the wildlife shots for their beauty and the interpretation of the travel memoir for it's perspective. It is a travel experience and personal story of a European woman in Africa who has impeccably bad luck with truck drivers. In the film Kim Basinger's character avoids any sort of developed connections to the people she is living amongst and remains transplatedly European throughout the duration. You'd think for such a large budget they could develop some African characters beyond a few lines but they remain peripheral and unnamed in the main narrative (aside from Lance Reddick's 'Simon'). All that being said, your pet snake will love this movie. See more Read all reviews
I Dreamed of Africa

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Cast & Crew

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Hugh Hudson

Director

Kim Basinger

Kuki Gallmann

Vincent Perez

Paolo Gallmann

Liam Aiken

Emanuele Gallman

Garrett Strommen

Emanuele at 17

Eva Marie Saint

Franca

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I Dreamed of Africa

I Dreamed of Africa (2000) Despite the initial hazards and imposing nature of this strange land, Africa comes to open its arms to Kuki (Kim Basinger), Emanuele (Liam Aiken) and her family in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Director Hugh Hudson and star Kim Basinger discuss a scene during the South Africa-based filming of Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Kim Basinger (left) stars as Kuki Gallmann (right), whose brave move to Africa inspired her passion for wildlife conservation, in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Kuki Gallmann (Kim Basinger) is a daughter of privilege who moves from Italy to the wilds of Africa with her new husband, Paolo (Vincent Perez, left) and young son Emanuele (Liam Aiken) Kim Basinger is Kuki Gallman in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Nothing in his privileged Italian upbringing could have prepared Paolo (Vincent Perez) for the devastating, destructive wind storms and other challenges of Africa in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Kuki (Kim Basinger) struggles to let her equally passionate and adventurous son Emanuele (Garrett Strommen) develop into an independent man in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Vincent Perez stars as Paolo Gallmann, Kuki's charismatic husband and partner in this daring adventure in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa Kim Basinger is Kuki Gallman in Columbia's I Dreamed Of Africa View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by the true story of indomitable Kuki Gallmann, the film tells of a beautiful and inquisitive woman who had the courage to escape from her comfortable yet monotonous life in Italy to start anew in the African wilderness with her son, Emanuele, and her new husband, Paolo. Gallmann faces great danger there but eventually becomes a celebrated conservationist.
Director
Hugh Hudson
Producer
Stanley R. Jaffe, Allyn Stewart
Screenwriter
Kuki Gallmann, Paula Milne, Susan Shilliday
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Jaffilms, Columbia Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Sensuality|Nudity|Traumatic Episodes|Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.5M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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