I Am David (2003)

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers (WGA):

Anne Holm (novel)
Paul Feig (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 November 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Believe in the power to change your destiny

Plot:

I Am David is adapted from Anne Holm's internationally acclaimed novel of the same name (re-titled North to Freedom in the USA)...

Plot Keywords:

Bread | Compass | Denmark | Escape | Envelope

Awards:

8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ben Tibber	...	David
James Caviezel	...	Johannes (as Jim Caviezel)
Joan Plowright	...	Sophie
Hristo Shopov	...	The Man
Silvia De Santis	...	Elsa
Paco Reconti	...	Giovanni
Roberto Attias	...	Baker
Francesco De Vito	...	Roberto
Paul Feig	...	American Man
Lucy Russell	...	American Woman
Maria Bonnevie	...	David's Mother
Viola Carinci	...	Maria
Marin Jivkov	...	Cecha
Robert Syulev	...	Angelo
Alessandro Sperduti	...	Carlo

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and violent content.

Runtime:

90 min | Turkey:84 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Ontario) | Iceland:LH | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (certificate #39701) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-3 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Walden Media

Trivia:

Writer/Director Paul Feig chose to give the character David the gift of quickly assimilating and communicating in new languages in order to avoid subtitling. He believed subtitling the many languages in the film would have distanced the viewers from the story.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Maria shows David a globe, David asks her to show him Denmark. The camera focuses on Denmark, then traces down the globe to Italy. Though antique in appearance, modern country names on the globe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia) shows it dates at least from 1993.

Quotes:

Sophie: David, most people are good.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Bavna Melodija I Raeenica

Excellent film

In a day when few films are wholesome or uplifting, this film was a breath of fresh air. All those who have made negative remarks about Ben Tibber's performance - it is clear you have never met anyone from Bulgaria. His stoic and serious role was accurate and well done.

As I did not know anything about this movie when I watched it, it seemed slow and at times frustrating. However, I am extremely glad I watched the entire film, as the message of this film is outstanding.

It is unfortunate that many have forgotten that films can be educational as well as entertaining, and uplifting as well as meaningful. Children and adults alike can learn history through films such as I Am David, as they experience stories they may have forever been ignorant of if not for the makers of this film.