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Movies / On DVD / I Am David
I Am David

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I Am David (2004)

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Reviews Counted:34

Fresh:13

Rotten:21

Average Rating:5.2/10

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for thematic elements and violent content

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Dec 3, 2004 Limited

Box Office: $252,018

Synopsis: An extraordinary family adventure, I AM DAVID follows a twelve year-old boy as he boldly escapes from an East European prison camp and makes an incredible personal journey to freedom. Fleeing with... An extraordinary family adventure, I AM DAVID follows a twelve year-old boy as he boldly escapes from an East European prison camp and makes an incredible personal journey to freedom. Fleeing with only a compass, half a loaf of bread and a sealed, secret letter he must carry across the continent, David cannot foresee the dramatic odyssey that awaits him. From stowing away on a ship bound for Italy, to facing his fears of the dangerous outside world, to the unexpected revelation of his true identity, David discovers for the first time the real meaning of courage, trust, laughter and hope. Based on the internationally acclaimed young adult novel by Anne Holm, I AM DAVID celebrates the indomitable human spirit and captures the thrill of a child tasting the wonders and excitement of life for the first time. The film is written and directed by Paul Feig (the Emmy-nominated creator of television's "Freaks and Geeks"). The cast includes Oscar nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner Joan Plowright ("Enchanted April"), acclaimed American actor Jim Caviezel ("The Passion of the Christ") and newcomer Ben Tibber in the role of David. The producers are Clive Parsons, Davina Belling and Lauren Levine. When the story begins, freedom is just a dream to David (Ben Tibber), a young boy who has grown up a captive in a 1950s labor camp with almost no knowledge of the outside world or what happened to his family. Everything he knows about life has been taught to him by his fellow prisoner and mentor Johannes (Jim Caviezel). One night David is helped to make a brave break from the camp and is handed a mysterious letter he is told must reach Denmark, a place David has never heard of, let alone knows how to find. Relying on his wits and courage, David manages to evade the prison commandos, attempt a dangerous border crossing and hide away on a freighter headed for Italy, but his adventure is only just beginning. In Italy, David discovers something beyond his imagination: a country at peace. He has no idea how to get along in this brave new world-the only advice he's ever been given is to trust no one. He doesn't understand the most basic aspects of everyday life - doesn't know what money is, how to use silverware or even how to smile. It's as if he must learn how to live in the world from scratch, and each day brings both shocking new terrors and exhilarating new pleasures. When David is taken in by a kind aristocratic Italian family, he is so happy to at last have a home, he almost gives up on his quest to reach Denmark. But the journey must go on. Haunted by memories, David crosses into Switzerland, where he meets an artist recovering from her own tragedy, Sophie (Joan Plowright), the woman who will help him find the key to his identity and his destiny at last. -- © Lions Gate Films [More]

Starring: Ben Tibber, Jim Caviezel, Joan Plowright

Starring: Ben Tibber, Jim Caviezel, Joan Plowright

Director: Paul Feig

Director: Paul Feig
Screenwriter: Paul Feig
Producer: Clive Parsons, Davina Belling
Studio: Lions Gate Films

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Release:

Apr 5, 2005

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Reviews for I Am David

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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Get out the Game Boy instead.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment 1 Comment
08/26/06
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Filmcritic.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
11/09/04
Channel 4 Film

It's refreshing to watch a movie aimed at young people that's actually grounded in reality.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/03/04
E! Online
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
03/06/05
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
AV Club
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine

It's so under-dramatized that it's barely there.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Mercury | comment Comment
12/02/04
Anthony Del Valle
Anthony Del Valle
Las Vegas Mercury

Though it looks like it was made for two nickels, I Am David resonates strongly in the heart, which is all this film is truly going after.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
12/01/04
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

An unconvincing fairy tale that masquerades as an earnest plea for freedom.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
09/18/04
Bruce Feld
Bruce Feld
Film Journal International

It's like Tom Sawyer's Great Escape - a strange combination of stories that's interesting, but doesn't quite capture your emotions.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/05/04
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

He knows there's so much drama and emotion in the story, it doesn't need schmaltzy dialogue or actors begging us to cry.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
12/02/04
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Manipulative though it is, it doesn't generate much real emotion.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
12/02/04
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

"I Am David" earns just about every teardrop it elicits. The journey isn't smooth, but that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
12/03/04
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Kansas City Star

It is not an especially brilliant film, nor does it execute its ideas with particular flair, and yet I cannot resist liking and being moved by it.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
12/04/04
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

The film is marred by too many coincidences, but there are a couple of twists at the end that tug at the heartstrings and leave you with a warm feeling.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
12/03/04
Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

A nice enough picture, but it's also slow and meandering. Watching it is like seeing a decent Family Channel movie, except in this case you have to pay for it.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
12/04/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

I Am David is a fine family film about a twelve-year old boy's escape from a Bulgarian prison camp and his quest to find out his true identity.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
10/28/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

The words creak with calculated composition that never sufficiently capture the foreignness of the situations or individuality of people.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
12/31/03
Greg Muskewitz
Greg Muskewitz
eFilmCritic.com
 
 
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