Kim Basinger in "I Dreamed of Africa."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film an: Stars: Kim Basinger Director: Hugh Hudson Rated: PG-13, with moderate violence, sex, language Length: 114 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(May 5, 2000) -- Love can exact a terrible price.

Just ask Kuki Gallmann, a high-born European woman who moved from Venice to Africa. She develops a deep passion for the exotic land and its wildlife, but painfully watches it claim the lives of two of her loved ones.

That's the basis for I Dreamed of Africa, a bittersweet portrayal of rebirth and determination adapted from Gallmann's memoir.

Gallmann is a robust woman of passionate strength, brought vibrantly to life by Kim Basinger. It's her first performance since winning an Oscar in 1998 for L.A. Confidential.

The story is set in the recent past. We first encounter Kuki in Venice, where she's out on the town with friends. A car crash challenges both Kuki and the only other survivor, her friend Paolo (Vincent Perez), to reassess their lives.

They soon marry and head off to run Paolo's family ranch in Kenya. They're joined by young Emanuele, Kuki's 7-year-old son from an earlier marriage, who Paolo grows to love as his own. "Emmie" is played by Liam Aiken as a young boy, and by Garrett Strommen as a teenager.

Kuki quickly becomes infatuated with the stunning vistas and rugged terrain, and relishes her fearsome but exciting encounters with wildlife. She also learns that Africa is no paradise -- especially when her husband proves to be less responsible than she might have hoped.

Despite a long list of chores on the ranch, Paolo frequently heads off to hunt in the bush with friends. Kuki is left to cope with elephants trampling the garden, and a recalcitrant windmill.

The ranch also turns out to be a difficult and dangerous place to raise a young, risk-taking boy with a special love of snakes.

Director Hugh Hudson conveys the beauty and scope of Africa and guides Basinger through a potent portrayal that holds our attention. He's less successful at building his film to a traditional, resounding finale.

I Dreamed of Africa works best as a character study, a slice of challenging life, than as a compelling narrative. In that sense, the film seems more realistic -- but perhaps less engaging -- than the film it most resembles, the more conventionally dramatic Out of Africa.

Still, Basinger's performance brings Kuki Gallmann to life, and we find ourselves admiring the character's strength and conviction as she overcomes physical and emotional hardships.

The land, of course, is the other major character. Cinematographer Bernard Lutic captures the vastness, mystery and color of the settings, the Zuilu Nyala Game Reserve and Kenya's Ol Ari Nyiro Ranch.

A lovely score by the great film composer Maurice Jarre further enhances the film's lyrical beauty.