I Am David

Great story. Your children should watch this

This is odd, normally I see people take stars away for a move for some reason that seems trivial - 'the vocabulary was not as expansive as it should/could have been', 'The night sky cannot ever be that bright so close to such a large city, so I'm subtracting one star. . .', etc. In this movie I'm ADDING a star for a trivial reason: The movie was 'sweet' and had such brightness against an overpowering dark, brutal, and evil beginning that is well enough hidden that adults will 'get' it, and children will 'miss' the reality being portrayed.So, I give one star for how well done the film was done that children can watch it, and in the end take one away for needing to suspend my adult knowledge about real living conditions in post-war (WWII) Europe - and also know that had I not been forced to subtract that one star, it would not be a movie for 3d-4th graders through hopeful adults like many of us.I think this is the first time I have done such a thing, and yet, just as those who took a star away for what seems to me to be trivial reasons, I feel that my reason is just as valid as those who take a star away because Redwood trees don't grow in Equatorial Africa (for example). This is a different 'coming of age' story, set not on reaching what is generally thought of as 'adulthood' - but should be: the reaching beyond an environment so filled with brutality and mistrust, yet the struggle with the 'forces of darkness' ends with the flickering light of Hope and Trust -- and the implied ability to, perhaps, hopefully learn how to Love.The 'brutality' shown in the movie is NOT graphic, but implied so I'm not sure what age this would be appropriate for, but 3d-4th grade young. When I was young and learning to read I toured Europe during the Cold War of the 1950's, when Eastern Europe and the Soviet Satellite nations were very real and very dark with fear. My mother had me reading a book, "The Silver Sword" - about a boy who wandered through post-war Poland and Eastern Europe, alone I think - the bleakness was implied, easy to imagine, but not graphic - in that story arc, as in this, the outcome was 'from the dust of evil and destruction rises the growing candle flame of Hope'.So - yes, as others have said, a 'Low Budget Film' - but it doesn't show or present like so many other 'cheap' films do, and the over-riding story-line is a young child, very early teens perhaps, escaping a brutal prison camp, the violence foggily implied by today's standards - and the message clear: there ARE Good and Compassionate people who help others, and we ARE guided by forces which we cannot see or understand at the time -- often propelling us towards our Global Human Goal: to care, and to teach caring.So, ultimately I add one star for a powerful story line and subtract one star for my personal need to 'suspend belief' because people were FAR too well dressed and FAR too clean for the characters they played (yeah, even *I* see how trivial that is, but needs to be said, and perhaps pointed out to children as a 'learning point' and as part of a child's skill set needed for 'critical thinking'. The lead character - for who he was, where he'd come from, and how long he'd have been on the 'road' (and most all others: farm hands, delivery people, etc) ALL with clean clothes and faces -- NOT how post war Europe or 'runaway' children look. While this makes it an exceptional film for children, adults know living conditions of the homeless and low-income 'working class' did not produce sparking clean skin and bright white shirts. The 'country houses' were also far too clean and well appointed for post- WWII Eastern Europe.And ironically I watch myself become that reviewer at whom I often roll my eyes, doing what I tend to find annoying.AND THOSE ARE THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL FAMILY FILM IN ADULT FORM.

I am David is a historical fiction film based on Anne Holm's novel of the same name and directed by Paul Feig. The plot involves a Bulgarian concentration camp prisoner named David and his attempt to escape to Denmark. I won't spoil anymore.Ben Tibber is good in the leading role but it the adult actors who really make the magic of the film. Jim Cavizel gives a beautifully low-key performance as David's best friend and serves as a sort of guardian angel figure. Francesco di Vito plays a character David meets a couple times and has some humorous moments to lighten the relatively bleak atmosphere of the film. But best of all is Joan Plowright as Sophie who should have recieved a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She is a very kind, sweet grandmotherly woman whom David eventually confides in. Probably her finest moments were.1.) When she's painting his portrait. "I'm having such trouble with your eyes. Such serious eyes. Such a serious face."2.) "Now, stand back and tell me what the picture says to you. I see a very intelligent, very serious person. But there's something about the eyes--such sad serious eyes--but's that all I know because he doesn't want to let anyone in"3.) When she's lying to the border guard, trying to make an excuse for letting them pass without his identification cards. "Couldn't you just relax the rules a little? All he wants to do is come into your country, overthrow your government and rush right out of it."4.) When David tells her he works in the circus. "The CIRCUS?" (Startled expression) "Oh...well...that must be VERY interesting." The look in her eyes as she sips her tea while saying this line is priceless.5.) "I wouldn't DREAM of turning you into anybody for any reason. David you don't have to tell me anything. I just want you to know that you're quite safe here and everything is going to be allright."I really liked how the plot is interrupted by a series of flashbacks from David's life and how at the end they all come together and make sense like the pieces of a puzzle. It's a very original, innovative technique that works quite well here.There's only two things I wish were different:1. When David tells Sophie everything at the bookstore we get another shot of them leaving in a hurry. They could have shown David telling her everything but have the dialogue muted and only the music rolling. A close up of Joan Plowright's face during her reaction would have been an excellent touch.2. When they get to the police station, Sophie gives the man behind the counter David's identification cards and he dials a telephone. Wouldn't it have been an awesome touch to show the blond woman (from the flashbacks) pick it up and see her reaction--possibly an outburst of joyful tears or a fainting fit?The costumes and sets are wonderfully detailed (especially the mansion in Italy) and the Academy should smack themselves for not even nominating the cienematography.All in all a very interesting, fascinating and excellent movie.

Young David is given instructions how and when to escape the concentration camp where he's lived so long his memories of any life before are dim. His mentor & protector is played by Jim Caviezel who is a terrific actor, but I couldn't be sure he was the one who sent him on his way.David escapes with only his ragged camp clothes and is directed to a spot in the nearby woods where a sack of items is buried to help him on his jouney. The youngster playing David is very good in his role listening to that voice in his head repeating the instructions and warnings as he ticks off the instructions. As a viewer I wondered who owned that voice, why was he helping this boy, who would he find at his destination (if he makes it).David encounters various people; some who taunt him, others who want to help him, but he trusts no one. He has to be guarded plus he keeps having flashbacks and dreams of trauma he's witnessed or experienced.Because of living in the camp environment he doesn't know simple things such a "family" (what that actually means to have one and be a part of one), a world globe..... so he appears to others as sort of backward. He's smart, and brave, and a quick learner. He keeps moving towards his goal... Denmark, where he is to give a sealed envelope to someone. From that point forward he doesn't know and neither do we.He meets the nicest lady who's and artist; she becomes pivotal in his life but you'll have to watch to find out why.We find out lots about David's past as we also learn about his future.A wonderful film!!!James Caviezel, Joan Plowright, Ben Tibber ~ all terrific!

Very heartwarming. A bit slow in the middle but I still enjoyed it.

This was so disappointing, almost a different story, nowhere near as great as the book. I can't understand why they didn't stay close to Anne Holm's original. If like us you loved the book, avoid this film

The ending of this film is a real tear-jerker, and though elements of the script are not really credible, the general thrust is not unreasonable as in the aftermath of the WWII there were huge migrations of population across the European continent. While I accept that the accent of the actor playing the boy is pure English, trying to mimic a hotchpotch of different accents would have resulted in nothing more than a pastiche. The viewer can easily fill in the gap for him or herself. Joan Plowright is excellent in the role of Sophie.

This film of the book is rather different, making one feel for David in his isolation from the real world (with it's good and evil sides). The young actor, Ben Tibber, plays the character of David with an intersting perception of someone who cannot and does not trust anyone. His friendships, that he eventually has, are with many different people that highlight the either very concerned to the apathtic feelings of the people he meets. The book is more intense and fearful, the film comes across as more of being in a dreamlike state.

This is a very nice film if you are not looking for a true copy of the book. I thought it would be very hard to make a film of this story because so much of it is in the descriptions and really it leaves out SO much and changes other things. It was disappointing for me but I was not surprised, I would not give the dvd to a child who I thought might read the book. I don't really know what to say, They are just not the same but perhaps the best the script writer could do. The horrors and love of this story can only be in words in my opinion.

Different ending to the book which I preferred although makes for a film that was shorter than expected. General feel of film was good though in comparison.