Susan Granger’s review of “I DREAMED OF AFRICA” (Columbia Pictures)
Kuki Gallmann is an amazing woman whose story is a testament to courage, determination, and tenacity. Two years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Kuki and spending several evenings with her on her ranch in Kenya. An Italian aristocrat by birth, Kuki (Kim Basinger) begins her tale with how she met Paolo (Vincent Perez), her second husband, who convinced her to move with her young son, Emanuele, to Kenya in 1974, over the protests of her mother (Eva Marie Saint). Despite difficulty in adjusting to the tempo and pace of life, the dangerous wildlife, greedy poachers, the ravages of nature, and – most of all- the loneliness at Ol Ari Nyiro ranch, Kuki fell passionately in love with Africa. Her devotion was so intense that it withstood two devastating losses. Paolo was killed in a car accident driving home with a cradle for their unborn daughter and, three years later, Emanuele, an amateur herpetologist, was fatally bitten by a puff adder. Yet, with all this inherent drama, the film skims over the surface. Written by Paula Milne & Susan Shilliday and directed by Hugh Hudson, it never develops an emotional connection between the audience, nor does it communicate a challenging sense of adventure. Instead, it unfolds with the languid pace of a magnificent travelogue. While Kim Basinger is appealing, she doesn’t capture Kuki’s zest and enthusiasm – let alone her flamboyant style and Italian accent. In comparison with “Out of Africa,” Kim’s no Meryl Streep, nor is Vincent Perez a Robert Redford. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “I Dreamed of Africa” is a stunning, lyrical 6. You can stay at Kuki’s Mukutan Retreat in Laikipia on the edge of the Great Rift Valley to experience the wonders of Africa’s wilderness. But if you can’t take that trip, seeing this movie is the next-best thing.
