Duma (2005)
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93% of critics liked it
(60 reviews) -
59% of users liked it
(20,357 ratings)
Carroll Ballard, director of The Black Stallion and Never Cry Wolf, presents another story of an unusual relationship between humans and animals in this drama. Xan (Alexander Michaletos) is a young boy who lives with his father and mother (Campbell Scott and Hope Davis) on a ranch in Kenya. One day,… More Carroll Ballard, director of The Black Stallion and Never Cry Wolf, presents another story of an unusual relationship between humans and animals in this drama. Xan (Alexander Michaletos) is a young boy who lives with his father and mother (Campbell Scott and Hope Davis) on a ranch in Kenya. One day, Xan and his folks discover a cheetah cub whose mother has died. With no one to care for the cat, Xan and his family take the cheetah under their wing, and after naming the cub "Dooms" (from "Duma," which means "male cheetah cub" in Swahili), Xan and his new friend become inseparable. However, Xan and his parents discover in time that nature doesn't always have a happy ending planned for a little boy. Duma was based on a book for children called How It Was With Dooms: A True Story From Africa, by Carol Cawthra Hopcraft and Xan Hopcraft, which told the story of Xan's real-life friendship with a cheetah. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Carroll Ballard
- Written By
- Carol Flint, Karen Janszen
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family
- In Theaters
- Sep 30, 2005 Limited
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Michael Booth, Denver Post
It's a crime what happened to the wonderful African wilderness movie Duma in 2005. Beautifully directed by veteran Carroll Ballard, Duma fell flat in the United States because of bad timing and abysmal marketing.
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Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News
For those wishing they still made films like The Black Stallion, today is your lucky day.
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Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
Visually panoramic, a film that revels in making the expanse of a beautiful place palpable.
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Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Too suspenseful for the youngest children, but for anyone older than 8 or 9, it evokes nothing less than awe at the harsh beauty of the natural world.
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Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
With ravenous alligators and lions on the prowl, Duma delivers familiar adventure, but Ballard refuses to cater to cuteness.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Alexander Michaletos
as Xan
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Eamonn Walker
as Ripkuna
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Campbell Scott
as Peter
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Hope Davis
as Kristin
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Nicky Rebelo
as Coach Nagy
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Sasha
as Duma
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Savannah
as Duma
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Jennifer Steyn
as Aunt Gwen
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Clive Scott
as Tourist #3 Eager Man
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Christos Nikitaidis
as Duma
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Vilen Azarov
as Duma
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Adelina Anthony
as Duma
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Billy Shebar
as Young Duma
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Mary Makhatho
as Thandi
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Nthabiseng Kenoshi
as Lucille
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Garth Renecle
as Hock Bender
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Andre Stolz
as Xan's Teacher
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Charlotte Savage
as Poetry Student
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Ronald Shange
as Policeman
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Nadia Kretschmer
as Tourist #1
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John Whiteley
as Tourist #2
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Catriona Andrew
as Tourist #4 Beautiful Woman
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Errol Ballantine
as White Haired Doctor
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Michele Levin
as Doctor's Wife
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Sam Nagakane
as Old Man In Village
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Adelaide Shabalala
as Medicine Woman - Suliwa
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Thokozani Ndaba
as Rip's Wife - Melika
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Wright Ngubane
as Rip's Son
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Bernard Msimang
as Rip's Father
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Ivy Nkutha
as Rip's Mother
- Alex Michaeletos
- John Wells





