Themes: Journey of Self-Discovery, Mothers and Sons, Escape From Prison
Main Cast: Ben Tibber, James Caviezel, Joan Plowright, Hristo Shopov, Silvia De Santis
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
A young boy is sent on a remarkable odyssey as he flees a Communist prison camp in this historical drama, set in Eastern Europe in the early '50s. David (Ben Tibber) is a 12-year-old boy who was sentenced with his parents to a Bulgarian labor camp when they were found guilty of political subversion; he hasn't seen his folks in years, and looks to fellow inmate Johannes (Jim Caviezel) for protection and guidance. One day, David is able to escape, and as he flees, he is given a sealed envelope with strict instructions that he is to travel to Denmark, and he cannot open the letter until he gets there. David makes his way to Greece, stows away on an Italian ship, and is befriended by Maria (Viola Carinci), a girl he saves from a fire. Maria convinces her wealthy family to take David in, but when they become curious about his background, David realizes he's in danger and is soon on the run once again. In time, David makes friends with Sophie (Joan Plowright), a kind Swiss woman who gives him a home and is willing to help him complete his long journey. I Am David was adapted from the novel North to Freedom by Anne Holm, and represented a change of pace for director Paul Feig, best known for his work on such offbeat television comedies as Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Paco Reconti - Giovanni; Roberto Attias - Baker; Francesco De Santis - Roberto; Paul Feig - American Man; Mat Patresi - Swiss Border Guard; Maria Bonnevie - David's Mother; Paraskeva Djukelova - Young Mother; Lucy Russell - American Woman; Nikola Rudarov - Store Owner; Shaila Rubin - Vineyard Owner; Alessandro Sperduti - Carlo; Maxim Genchev - Policeman; Valeri Yordanov - Bulgarian Soldier; Adrian McCourt - David's Father; Clem Tibber - Young David; Carnci Viola - Maria; Francesco De Vito - Roberto; Enrico Vecchi - Grocer; Viola Carinci - Maria; Marin Jivkov - Cecha; Robert Syulev - Angelo; Krassimir Kutzuparov - Camp Officer; Elisabetta Bartolomei - Woman at Party; Krassimir Radkov - Party Guest; Deyan Machev - Party Guest; Dobrin Dossev - Border Guard; Malin Krastev - Policeman; Ivan Nestorov - Swiss Policeman; Stefan Shteref - Bulgarian Officer; Panayot Tzanev - Quarry Guard; Nikolai Kipchev - Truck Driver; Stephen Antonie Shteref - Communist Protester
Credit
Nasko Ianakiev - Art Director, Shaila Rubin - Casting, Pipia Hall - Casting, Uliva Pizzetti - Costume Designer, Mary Soan - First Assistant Director, Paul Feig - Director, Steve Weisberg - Editor, Andrea Borella - Line Producer, Stewart Copeland - Composer (Music Score), Lindsay Fellows - Musical Direction/Supervision, Giovanni Natalucci - Production Designer, Roman Osin - Cinematographer, Davina Belling - Producer, Clive Parsons - Producer, Lauren Levine - Producer, Mark Binder - Sound/Sound Designer, Bruce White - Sound Recordist, Paul Feig - Screenwriter, Capital FX - Digital Effects, Laura Borzelli - Makeup Supervisor, Mark Holt - Special Effects Coordinator, Vasko Dikov - Special Effects Coordinator, Antonello Rubino - Set Decorator, Anne Holm - Book Author
Seven years after World War II, a 12-year old boy named David (Ben Tibber) escapes a Stalinist concentration camp in Bulgaria where he has spent his entire life. He sets out on a risky journey to Denmark, initially believing he is on an important mission to deliver a letter, but eventually discovering that the "mission" was to reunite him with his mother, of whom he only has faint memories. Along his journey, he faces danger, fear, loneliness, and hunger, and encounters various people.
Johannes (Jim Caviezel), his friend and mentor in the camp, who prepares him for escape, is killed by a guard, leaving David to face escape on his own. David is helped by a guard to escape, who gives him a compass and tells him he must go southwest to Greece, take a boat to Italy and finally go north to Denmark, a peaceful and neutral country. Since David was locked in a camp all his life, he has repressed feelings and trusts no one, and so feels lost and disoriented in the world.
Along his journey, though he is mistreated by some people, he is well-treated by others. Gradually he learns that some people can be trusted, and to open up and experience his own feelings. Finally, with the help of decent people whom he has learned to trust, David and his mother are reunited.
Reception
The film generally received negative reviews from critics. Based on 34 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of critics gave I Am David a positive review, with an average rating of 5.2/10.[1]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "I couldn't believe a moment of it, and never identified with little David."[2]
The film grossed $288,552 domestically in 226 theaters. In the rest of the world, the film grossed $3,824.[3]
Awards
The film won several awards in 2003, including the Crystal Heart Award in the Heartland Film Festival, the Queens Festival's Best Feature Film prize, and Best Film and Most Promising Actor for Ben Tibber.[4]
