Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
I am David
I’m pretty picky about movie reviews–very picky, actually. The reviews I want are from friends who think like I do, who can tell me whether there is (even minor or suggestive) sexual content and what’s up with bad language.
I’ll probably look at “regular” reviews too, but I’m not surprised if I disagree in the end. That usually means I don’t watch even though the reviews are great.
Here’s a prime example in the other direction. My very good friend Karin recommended the DVD I Am David. Before we watched, I discovered the mediocre-to-bad reviews the movie received when it was first released.
But Karin said, “It’s a very good film. You ought to watch it.” I trusted her and she was right. How is it that I’d never even heard of this story before?
It is the story of 12-year-old David who escapes a Soviet Communist gulag (work camp) in Bulgaria in the early 1950s. He has just a compass, a stale loaf of bread, a sealed letter, and instructions to carry the letter to Denmark. David tastes freedom for the first time as he treks through Europe trying to follow those instructions. Along the way, he gradually learns to smile and even begins to trust one person, the woman who connects him with his life-changing climax in Copenhagen.
Artistically, the details unfold gradually through the story until the AHA moment that makes me want to watch again to realize the full implication of scenes that were intentionally sparse first time through.
Okay. Now I’m imagining the next question from my children, “Did you read the book first?”
Well, no. But I plan to. How can I resist it after enjoying the movie so much and then reading a review like this:
It is quite simply the best children’s novel I have ever read.
The story follows David from his life in a eastern European concentration camp to freedom in Denmark. Along the way David learns self reliance, finds faith in the God of “the still waters and green pastures,” discovers love, compasion and friendship. Through the book, David transforms from a victim to a human. I can’t remember the last time I cried reading a book, but I did several times with this.
If you want a book to teach a kid about self respect, love, forgiveness,and faith this is the book for you. If you don’t want a book that teaches these things it is one heck of a story.
20 Responses to “I am David”
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Awesome! Thanks for the head’s up!
I have watched this one 3 years ago with Japanese subtitle. Yes, I agree with you, Noel. It makes you want to watch it over again right away. I didn’t know there is a book.
A great place for movie reviews from a Christian worldview is Plugged In Online, from Focus on the Family. Very helpful website!
The book IS excellent. Originally, the U.S. title was “North to Freedom” by Anne Holm. I found it at our library last year by that title. Since the movie, its title has been “I am David” on new editions.
I, too, saw the movie first – then read the book and it was one of the rare times that I think it’s OK to see the movie first. The book adds much to the faith journey of David, and the ending and some important plot elements are different so you can enjoy the book all the way to the end.
I’m with you. I’m picky about movies, too, and it seems like the ones I like the most often times had the worst reviews.
Thanks, Noel, for the info. I plan to read AND watch.
I’ll have to watch that. I just watched the Stoning of Soraya M last week and wanted to puke. Figures the first time I watch a movie and I end up having nightmares from it. I had mixed feelings about that movie, but mostly walked away feeling incredibly sad. So thanks for the heads up on this movie!
I haven’t seen the movie (great to read your review – makes me more keen to see it) however when I was in Year 8 at school (way back in 1992) we studied “I am David” in English. I thought it was a beautiful book.
A movie I really enjoyed was “Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont”. It was quite a clean movie too – the only questionable content I recall is when Mrs Palfrey sees Ludo and his girlfriend playing together through a window – nothing overtly sexual though – very minor.
It’s a slow movie but not painfully so – just a slow and steady pace.
You are as picky as I am about movies. Have you listed the movies you enjoyed somewhere on line? I would love to see your “approved” list. I will be watching “I am David” and looking for the book. Thanks!
Hello from Vanuatu,
My husband read the book to my children last year and they (aged 5 and 7) really loved it and so did I. It was a great book to read out loud. We bought the DVD for them for Christmas and while they enjoyed, we didn’t think it was good as the book. So much of the book concerns David’s thoughts and his changing perception of the world and people around him. It’s hard to communicate all this in film, although they do a pretty good job. There are also some parts left out of the film which were quite meaningful. And some things are added… sometimes for better, sometimes not.
I watched this movie a couple of years ago and was so taken with it. I must watch it again.
My husband and I would REALLY like to see this movie, hope we can find it with English subtitles in Kazakhstan. Thanks for heads-up!!!
hey noel, if you go to pluggedinonline.com and type in any movie you want to see, they give you reviews for Sensuality, profane language, postive,negative and spiritual elements..etc. It really helps to choose a movie worth seeing.
This sparked a memory of a time when I was a kid that a guy from church recommended the movie Stand and Deliver. It’s one of those inspiring teacher-saves-the-urban-school stories. Well, we rented it and he just happened to stop in while we were watching it. Just at that moment there was some unsavory language coming from our t.v. set and he cringed and asked, “WHAT are you watching??!” And, of course, we got a laugh when we had to tell him that it was his highly recommended film!
Thanks for the recommendation, by the way. It feels like forever until we’ll have a full 2hours to watch a film uninterrupted. But, we’ll put this on the list!
“I Am David” is a rich, precious film! Our family watches it at least once a year. We love it so much that just last week we visited friends in another part of our state and a copy of “I Am David” is what we brought to thank them for hosting us! :-)
I had no idea it was also a book, though, and based on the recommendations here, I will most definitely be checking that out!
Great recommendation, love Jim Caviezel, so that is another plus! Can’t wait to watch…from yet another picky viewer.
Thanks Noel for ALL your tips (free music, etc) Johnny is blessed to have such a brilliant and fun wife :)
Yes,
I am David is a wonderful movie… very powerful, intuitive and well done.
another good site for movies is http://www.kidsinmind.com It’s less a movie review site, and more a rating system on “Sex & Nudity” “Violence and Gore” and “Profanity”. It rates movies as they are released online. Very helpful!
Thanks for sharing the movie–I am always looking for excellent movies, and plan to watch it. Have you ever seen “Gifted Hands–The Ben Carson Story”? It is the true story one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons. It really is a good movie. (Oh, yes, I love your blog and all the info you share–thank you so much!!!)
I checked out the book and movie from our local public library upon Noel’s recommendation. I am always eager to learn of new books that I can share with my nine year old son. I read the book first and this, was a little disappointed with the film. As Rachael from Vanuatu stated “So much of the book concerns David’s thoughts and his changing perception of the world and people around him. It’s hard to communicate all this in film, although they do a pretty good job.” In this case I would suggest watching the movie first and then read the book since the movie is a pale representation of the book.