I Am David (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers (WGA):

Anne Holm (novel)
Paul Feig (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 November 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Believe in the power to change your destiny

Plot:

I Am David is adapted from Anne Holm's internationally acclaimed novel North to Freedom. It is the story of a 12-year-old boy...

Plot Keywords:

Bread | Compass | Denmark | Escape | Sealed Envelope

Awards:

8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ben Tibber	...	David
James Caviezel	...	Johannes (as Jim Caviezel)
Joan Plowright	...	Sophie
Hristo Shopov	...	The Man
Silvia De Santis	...	Elsa
Paco Reconti	...	Giovanni
Roberto Attias	...	Baker
Francesco De Vito	...	Roberto
Paul Feig	...	American Man
Lucy Russell	...	American Woman
Maria Bonnevie	...	David's Mother
Viola Carinci	...	Maria
Marin Jivkov	...	Cecha
Robert Syulev	...	Angelo
Alessandro Sperduti	...	Carlo

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and violent content.

Runtime:

90 min | Turkey:84 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Ontario) | Iceland:LH | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (certificate #39701) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-3 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Walden Media

Trivia:

"Young David" is played by Clem Tibber, the real-life younger brother of Ben Tibber who played David through the rest of the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the window of the Italian bookstore, there is a book on display "L'uomo che guarda" of the Italian writer Alberto Moravia. This book was written in 1985, long after the events in the movie.

Quotes:

David: Why do people do such terrible things?
Sophie: Like what?
David: Like beat people, and kill them, and make them prisoners.
Sophie: Most people don't do that, David.
David: My friend Johannes always used to tell me, "Trust no one."
Sophie: Oh, life wouldn't be worth living if you did that, David.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Come Di

Surprisingly well adapted... as moving as the novel.

I have read Anne Holm's I am David dozens of times since I first stumbled upon it as a 12 year old. It has been one of those novels that have remained with me, not just the pages, not just the story, but the way it has moved me and guided many of my decisions in life. I personally empathised with David, having been an abused child and when at 13 I became a state ward, the impossibility of trusting others to care for me were mirrored in David's own situation. This just to demonstrate how significant this work has been in my own development and connected I am with David's story.

When I heard there was a film made of this story, I was suspicious that it could not hope to reach the depths of the novel, particularly as one of the fundamental points of the novel had been changed and primarily because much of the 'action' in the novel occurs inside David's mind.

The film is significantly different to the novel in a few key details and yet it has managed to capture the essential soul of the novel, something I applaud and profoundly appreciate. Whilst the means of achieving the result is different, I was still left, as I always am when I read the story, with a deep sense of truth and love winning out over darkness and hatred. I was moved to tears once again and for all the same reasons and for that I would just like to say thank you to those involved.

I could not recommend this novel or film more deeply, particularly to those who's lives have been controlled by others who don't have their best interests at heart and who feel unable to regain control themselves. This above all things is a tribute to the ability of one who has no control and no idea how to gain control of their own lives succeeding in just that, without use of force, without manipulation or dishonesty, but simply with conviction that the goal must be achieved for whatever reason, because to not achieve it is to invite death and darkness upon yourself and upon all you touch in your life.