The Sundance Institute has officially announced the recipient of the 2023 Merata Mita fellowship.
Filmmaker Caroline Monnet (Anishinaabe/French) was selected by the non-profit to receive the annual fellowship in honor of the late Māori filmmaker Mita, who died in 2010. Created for Indigenous women-identified artists, the year-round grant supports filmmakers’ first feature films.
Monnet was recognized at the Native Forum Celebration at The Park in Park City, Utah, during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The event featured an opening blessing by Bart Powakee and the Red Spirit Singers from the Ute Tribal Nation and remarks from Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute Board member Amy Redford, Nia Tero (represented by Tracy Rector), and Indigenous Program Director Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk). Piron also announced the five 2022 Native Lab Fellows, three 2022 Full Circle Fellowship Fellows, and acknowledged the 11 Indigenous-made projects from around the world premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival January 19-...
Filmmaker Caroline Monnet (Anishinaabe/French) was selected by the non-profit to receive the annual fellowship in honor of the late Māori filmmaker Mita, who died in 2010. Created for Indigenous women-identified artists, the year-round grant supports filmmakers’ first feature films.
Monnet was recognized at the Native Forum Celebration at The Park in Park City, Utah, during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The event featured an opening blessing by Bart Powakee and the Red Spirit Singers from the Ute Tribal Nation and remarks from Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute Board member Amy Redford, Nia Tero (represented by Tracy Rector), and Indigenous Program Director Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk). Piron also announced the five 2022 Native Lab Fellows, three 2022 Full Circle Fellowship Fellows, and acknowledged the 11 Indigenous-made projects from around the world premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival January 19-...
- 1/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Sundance Institute has announced the 15 screenwriters who have been chosen for the January 2020 Screenwriters Lab, which will go from the 17th-22nd. Those selected will have the opportunity to develop their independent projects by immersing themselves in the creative process and working with the mentorship of Creative Advisors.
Creative Advisors are Artistic Director Scott Frank, Michael Arndt, Suha Arraf, Ritesh Batra, Andrea Berloff, D.V. DeVincentis, Gonzalo Maza, Doug McGrath, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, and Tyger Williams.
“We’re so excited to welcome this singular and bold group of artists to our January Screenwriters Lab,” said Michelle Satter, the feature film program founding director. “Our program provides a safe and protected space for writers to be rigorous in their creative process as they develop new work that’s a true reflection of their unique voice and power as storytellers.
Creative Advisors are Artistic Director Scott Frank, Michael Arndt, Suha Arraf, Ritesh Batra, Andrea Berloff, D.V. DeVincentis, Gonzalo Maza, Doug McGrath, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, and Tyger Williams.
“We’re so excited to welcome this singular and bold group of artists to our January Screenwriters Lab,” said Michelle Satter, the feature film program founding director. “Our program provides a safe and protected space for writers to be rigorous in their creative process as they develop new work that’s a true reflection of their unique voice and power as storytellers.
- 12/17/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab has accepted 15 writers from countries including the U.S., Lebanon, South Africa, Turkey and the UK who will bring 12 projects to the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah from January 18-23.
The January Screenwriters Lab was created and organized under the leadership of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program Founding Director Michelle Satter and Labs Director Ilyse McKimmie. The team of Creative Advisors includes Artistic Director Dana Stevens, Michael Arndt, Thomas Bidegain, Todd Graff, Phil Hay, Erik Jendresen, Richard Lagravenese, Jenny Lumet, Malia Scotch Marmo, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Elena Soarez, Veena Sud, Robin Swicord, Joan Tewkesbury and Tyger Williams. This year’s Lab is dedicated to the memory of two cherished Creative Advisors: Tom Rickman and Audrey Wells. The Lab provides one-on-one story sessions for Fellows with the Creative Advisors. The Lab is the first step in a year-round continuum...
The January Screenwriters Lab was created and organized under the leadership of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program Founding Director Michelle Satter and Labs Director Ilyse McKimmie. The team of Creative Advisors includes Artistic Director Dana Stevens, Michael Arndt, Thomas Bidegain, Todd Graff, Phil Hay, Erik Jendresen, Richard Lagravenese, Jenny Lumet, Malia Scotch Marmo, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Elena Soarez, Veena Sud, Robin Swicord, Joan Tewkesbury and Tyger Williams. This year’s Lab is dedicated to the memory of two cherished Creative Advisors: Tom Rickman and Audrey Wells. The Lab provides one-on-one story sessions for Fellows with the Creative Advisors. The Lab is the first step in a year-round continuum...
- 12/13/2018
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Prolific writer Jim Harrison died on Saturday. He was 78. Among his many works, the author penned “Legends of the Fall,” a novella that was adapted for the 1994 film that starred Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. The novella and resulting movie followed three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of 1900s America, and how their lives were affected by nature, history, war, love and betrayal. It was adapted by Susan Shilliday and William D. Wittliff, and directed by Edward Zwick. Also Read: Joe Garagiola, Legendary Broadcaster and Baseball Player, Dies at 90 The outdoors was a common theme in Harrison’s works,...
- 3/28/2016
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Eliza Hittman (was love at first sight for her directorial debut It Felt Like Love) and Yung Chang (a docu-helmer best known for the award-winning portrait of modern China in Up the Yangtze) are just two of the dozen folks/projects invited to the upcoming Sundance Institute 2015 January Screenwriters Lab. The labs work as a testing ground of sorts, with Lab Director Ilyse McKimmie seeing to it that the screenwriters are mentored by filmmaking professionals. I’d wager that a good portion of these projects on paper eventually make it onto the big screen (say about 65 to 70 percent) and about 35-40 percent break into the actual Sundance Film Fest. Not unlike her debut picture, Hittman’s potential sophomore pic Beach Rats features NYC borough backdrop and via a teenage vantage point but is sure to stir the pot with tad bit more destruction. After Up the Yangtze, China Heavyweight, and The Fruit Hunters,...
- 12/16/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Drawn from the Us and around the world, participating indie screenwriters will work intensively on their feature film scripts alongside established writers in an environment geared toward "innovation and creative risk-taking," says the Sundance Institute. Led by Artistic Director Scott Frank, Creative Advisors onboard include distinguished writers and filmmakers Naomi Foner, Rodrigo Garcia, Michael Goldenberg, John Lee Hancock, Erik Jendresen, Kasi Lemmons, Walter Mosley, Marti Noxon, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Elena Soarez, Peter Straughan, Joan Tewkesbury, and Audrey Wells. The projects and fellows selected for the 2015 January Screenwriters Lab, with official synopses, are: "Archive" (USA) Jonathan Minard (Co-writer/Director) and Scott Rashap (Co-writer) In the wake of a virtual affair lived entirely through email and gchat, two lovers face the intangibility and distance that characterized their relationship. A...
- 12/16/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Below is the press release announcing the projects for the Sundance January Screenwriters Lab.
Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute has selected 12 projects for its annual January Screenwriters Lab, an immersive, five-day (January 13-18) writers’ workshop at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Participating independent screenwriters – drawn from around the world, including the United States, China, South Africa, and Europe – will have the opportunity to work intensely on their feature film scripts with the support of established writers in an environment that encourages innovation and creative risk-taking.
Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, said, “We are very excited to support these filmmakers who are giving voice to a world in transition with a diverse range of stories, genres and contemporary themes. Fueled by their creativity and a deeply personal stake in these stories, the filmmakers are infusing their scripts with rich characters, authentic worlds and uniquely singular visions.
Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute has selected 12 projects for its annual January Screenwriters Lab, an immersive, five-day (January 13-18) writers’ workshop at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Participating independent screenwriters – drawn from around the world, including the United States, China, South Africa, and Europe – will have the opportunity to work intensely on their feature film scripts with the support of established writers in an environment that encourages innovation and creative risk-taking.
Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, said, “We are very excited to support these filmmakers who are giving voice to a world in transition with a diverse range of stories, genres and contemporary themes. Fueled by their creativity and a deeply personal stake in these stories, the filmmakers are infusing their scripts with rich characters, authentic worlds and uniquely singular visions.
- 12/16/2011
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Sundance Institute has selected 12 projects for its annual January Screenwriters Lab, that takes place January 13-18 in Utah. The selected Fellows will work with a group of creative advisors, including Lab Artistic Director Scott Frank, Lisa Cholodenko, Geoffrey Fletcher, Naomi Foner, John Gatins, Susannah Grant, John Lee Hancock, Nicole Holofcener, Malia Scotch Marmo, Walter Mosley, Jessie Nelson, Martin Rejtman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens and Joachim Trier. Below are the 2012 January screenwriters lab Fellows and projects (synopses courtesy of Sundance Institute): Jonas Carpignano (writer/director) / A Chjàna (Italy/U.S.A.): After leaving his native Burkina Faso in search of a better life, Ayiva makes the perilous journey to Italy; though he finds compatriots along the way, they are unprepared for the intolerance facing immigrants in their newly-claimed home. Jonas Carpignano is an Italian-American filmmaker...
- 12/16/2011
- Indiewire
One of the hot properties at Cannes was the film version of Lionel Shriver's bestselling We Need to Talk About Kevin, but it's the rare book that makes a successful film. Here are 5 others that worked.
The next novel to watch as a film is We Need to Talk About Kevin, based on Lionel Shriver's chilling Orange Prize-winning novel, and directed by Lynne Ramsey. A spooky Tilda Swinton plays a mother who wonders what, if any, responsibility she has for her teenage son's murderous rampage, in the film, which had its premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival (early reviews called it "superb" ). Ramsey cowrote the script with Rob Festinger, who also adapted Andre Dubus' short story "The Killings" into the knockout 2001 film In the Bedroom, which was a hit at Sundance and nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Related story...
The next novel to watch as a film is We Need to Talk About Kevin, based on Lionel Shriver's chilling Orange Prize-winning novel, and directed by Lynne Ramsey. A spooky Tilda Swinton plays a mother who wonders what, if any, responsibility she has for her teenage son's murderous rampage, in the film, which had its premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival (early reviews called it "superb" ). Ramsey cowrote the script with Rob Festinger, who also adapted Andre Dubus' short story "The Killings" into the knockout 2001 film In the Bedroom, which was a hit at Sundance and nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Related story...
- 5/25/2011
- by Jane Ciabattari
- The Daily Beast
The Sundance Institute has announced fourteen projects for its 30th director and screenwriting labs. To be held at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 30-June 30, 2011, the lucky lab participants are listed below, along with details of their selves and their feature projects. Here’s the official word from the Institute:
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
- 5/2/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The Sundance Institute has announced fourteen projects for its 30th director and screenwriting labs. To be held at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 30-June 30, 2011, the lucky lab participants are listed below, along with details of their selves and their feature projects. Here’s the official word from the Institute:
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
- 5/2/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Today's Sundance Institute announcement on the make-up of this Summer's Directors and Screenwriters Labs offers some insight on the projects we should be seeing in future editions of the festival but also updates us on the progression of some projects we've already got our eyes on -- as is the case with Sean Durkin's upcoming first feature film and Ondi Timoner's (see pic) fictional debut. - Today's Sundance Institute announcement on the make-up of this Summer's Directors and Screenwriters Labs offers some insight on the projects we should be seeing in future editions of the festival but also updates us on the progression of some projects we've already got our eyes on -- as is the case with Sean Durkin's upcoming first feature film and Ondi Timoner's (see pic) fictional debut. Almost all projects that were are included in the Director's Lab were a part of the Screenwriter's...
- 4/26/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Today's Sundance Institute announcement on the make-up of this Summer's Directors and Screenwriters Labs offers some insight on the projects we should be seeing in future editions of the festival but also updates us on the progression of some projects we've already got our eyes on -- as is the case with Sean Durkin's upcoming first feature film and Ondi Timoner's (see pic) fictional debut. Almost all projects that were are included in the Director's Lab were a part of the Screenwriter's January Lab earlier this year, so among the newly mentioned projects in the screenwriting portion of the camp we find indie filmmaker starlets Ry Russo-Young (You Wont Miss Me) and Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture - freshly picked up by IFC) are co-writing a project called Nobody Walks with Russo-Young directing the project. Here's the complete press release below -- look for Ioncinema.com to keep tabs on several of these projects.
- 4/26/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
I usually begin these type of "Sundance Institute" updates by stating that these are the future names to watch out for on the indie film scene or in future editions of the festival, but the truth of the matter is, this year's batch of twelve are names we already mention on this site. Filmmakers such as Craig Zobel and Cherien Dabis are returning with their latest screenplays-in-progress and folks such as Lance Weiler, Sean Durkin (producer of Afterschool) and Edwin (multiple fest winner Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly) are making this an 2010 group to watch out for. - I usually begin these type of "Sundance Institute" updates by stating that these are the future names to watch out for on the indie film scene or in future editions of the festival, but the truth of the matter is, this year's batch of twelve are names we already mention on this site.
- 12/15/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
The Sundance Institute on Monday announced the 12 feature film projects selected for its annual January screenwriters lab.
The lab is a five-day writers workshop running Jan. 15-20 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Chosen fellows engage in one-on-one story sessions with established writers in an environment that encourages innovation, rigorous development and creative risk-taking.
The projects selected for the 2010 lab are "Bluebird" by Lance Edmands (U.S.), "Canary" by Craig Zobel (U.S.), "Drunktown's Finest" by Sydney Freeland (U.S.), "40 Days of Silence" by Saodat Ismailova (Uzbekistan), "HiM" by Lance Weiler and Chuck Wendig (U.S.), "How Many Trainings Must I Take Before I Can Be as Hard as Steel?" by Cao Baoping (China), "Martha Marcy May Marlene" by Sean Durkin (U.S.), "May in the Summer" by Cherien Dabis (U.S., Jordan), "My Favorite Nightmare" by Myna Joseph (U.S.), "Postcards From the Zoo" by Edwin and Daud Sumolang...
The lab is a five-day writers workshop running Jan. 15-20 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Chosen fellows engage in one-on-one story sessions with established writers in an environment that encourages innovation, rigorous development and creative risk-taking.
The projects selected for the 2010 lab are "Bluebird" by Lance Edmands (U.S.), "Canary" by Craig Zobel (U.S.), "Drunktown's Finest" by Sydney Freeland (U.S.), "40 Days of Silence" by Saodat Ismailova (Uzbekistan), "HiM" by Lance Weiler and Chuck Wendig (U.S.), "How Many Trainings Must I Take Before I Can Be as Hard as Steel?" by Cao Baoping (China), "Martha Marcy May Marlene" by Sean Durkin (U.S.), "May in the Summer" by Cherien Dabis (U.S., Jordan), "My Favorite Nightmare" by Myna Joseph (U.S.), "Postcards From the Zoo" by Edwin and Daud Sumolang...
- 12/14/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Summer is a time for picnics, days at the beach, and Sundance's Director's and Screenwriter's Labs. Out of the eight announced projects attending the Director's lab, seven of them were part of the Screenwriter's lab back in January. The new name added to the lab process is a project from artist/filmmaker Tala Hadid and The Narrow Frame of Midnight. Among the four projects invited to the Screenwriter's Lab we find a familiar name in director (see pic) Todd Louiso (Love Liza, The Marc Pease Experience) and his latest project Hello, I Must Be Going. Following in a natural progression on the Sundance Institute's part to develop young filmmakers and help develop their projects, here are the lucky dozen participants who will have a chance to workshop their films before they go into production - and here is a list of the people who will be there to coach them.
- 4/28/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
NEW YORK -- The Sundance Institute will workshop 13 projects at its January Screenwriters Lab, steered by a who's who of indie writers, including artistic director Scott Frank, Paul Attanasio, Kasi Lemmons, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal and Doug Wright.
Towelhead author Alicia Erian, whose novel was adapted for Alan Ball's upcoming Nothing Is Private, is developing a script about an American who faces repercussions after helping a Salvadoran immigrant in Hammer and Anvil.
The other projects include Liu Hao's Beijing romance Addicted to Love; John Magary's family drama "Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette"; Ryan Knighton's autobiographical blindness drama Cockeyed; and Hadar Friedlich's Israeli profile Hannah M.
Patrick Vala-Haynes' father-son drama The Henchman; Moon Molson's crime drama Meadowlandz; Daniel Casey's Polish-American boxing story Poletown; and Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa and Karen Sztajnberg's Brazilian coming-of-age drama Quotas also made the cut.
Rounding out the list are Liza Johnson's portrait of a military mother, Return; Hicham Ayouch's Moroccan Muslim drama Samba Do Maazouuz; Frank Budgen's adult U.K. fairy tale, Shockheaded Peter; and Darrell Dennis' study of a Native American woman in Canada, Tales of an Urban Indian.
Other Screenwriters Lab advisers include Rodrigo Garcia, Dan Kleinman, Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Malia Scotch Marmo, Christopher McQuarrie, Walter Mosley, Tom Rickman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zachary Sklar, Dana Stevens, Thomas Vinterberg and Tyger Williams.
Towelhead author Alicia Erian, whose novel was adapted for Alan Ball's upcoming Nothing Is Private, is developing a script about an American who faces repercussions after helping a Salvadoran immigrant in Hammer and Anvil.
The other projects include Liu Hao's Beijing romance Addicted to Love; John Magary's family drama "Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette"; Ryan Knighton's autobiographical blindness drama Cockeyed; and Hadar Friedlich's Israeli profile Hannah M.
Patrick Vala-Haynes' father-son drama The Henchman; Moon Molson's crime drama Meadowlandz; Daniel Casey's Polish-American boxing story Poletown; and Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa and Karen Sztajnberg's Brazilian coming-of-age drama Quotas also made the cut.
Rounding out the list are Liza Johnson's portrait of a military mother, Return; Hicham Ayouch's Moroccan Muslim drama Samba Do Maazouuz; Frank Budgen's adult U.K. fairy tale, Shockheaded Peter; and Darrell Dennis' study of a Native American woman in Canada, Tales of an Urban Indian.
Other Screenwriters Lab advisers include Rodrigo Garcia, Dan Kleinman, Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Malia Scotch Marmo, Christopher McQuarrie, Walter Mosley, Tom Rickman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zachary Sklar, Dana Stevens, Thomas Vinterberg and Tyger Williams.
- 12/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Creative teams from eight projects will receive advice from such high-profile advisors as Master and Commander scribe John Collee as part of the 2005 SPARK script-writing hothouse, organizers announced Tuesday. A joint venture of the Australian Film Commission and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, SPARK is modeled on similar script incubation programs around the world including the Sundance Lab in the United States and Equinox in France. From Aug. 28?Sept. 4, the teams will attend an intensive residential workshop near Noosa, Queensland, where they will receive script advice from a team of local and international advisors including American writer Susan Shilliday (Legends of the Fall) and David Veloz, the U.S. screenwriter of Natural Born Killers and Behind Enemy Lines. Collee will also contribute to the workshop.
- 8/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"I Dreamed of Africa", directed by Hugh Hudson, tells the story of newcomers to the continent who come to carve out a new life and fall in love with the mysteries and wonders of its countryside. Any adventure in such a fascinating and photogenic setting can't help but intrigue. The film suffers, however, from an annoying vagueness about the motives and inner lives of its personalities.
At times reminiscent of "Out of Africa" and the more recent "To Walk With Lions", "I Dreamed of Africa" starring Oscar winner Kim Basinger traffics in enough wild animals, rugged scenery and emotional trauma to give Columbia Pictures plenty of promotional hooks. Yet the episodic tale lacks a clear theme and sense of purpose, which may limit its boxoffice potential. The film is the closing-night screening in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Paula Milne and Susan Shilliday's screenplay is based on a memoir by Kuki Gallmann, an Italian woman who moved to Kenya with her young son (Liam Aiken) and new husband (Vincent Perez) to run a large cattle ranch. Life in Africa -- which, we are told ad infinitum, moves at "a different rhythm" -- creates a magnetic hold on these three tenderfeet, who come to love its magnificent grandeur and painful challenges.
Ever on guard against marauding wildlife, destructive storms and ruthless poachers, Kuki discovers that she must battle a more surprising adversary -- loneliness. Her husband disappears for long stretches of time to hunt big game or pal around with other men in the small European community.
Tragedies strike, too, from the deaths of animals to the devastating loss of family members. As the years roll by, Kuki learns that Africa claims a very high price from those who wish to dwell on her untamed land.
As staggering as this true story is -- with the kind of setbacks no one would dream of inflicting on fictional characters -- the filmmakers seem reticent to probe the private life of a living person and respected author. This results in more than a little ambiguity in its characterizations.
The relationship between Kuki and her husband, Paolo, is the chief puzzler. They are introduced at a moment of crisis, a mysterious nighttime auto accident in Italy. Both are badly injured, and others in the car are killed. Out of this tragedy is forged a friendship that quickly -- all too quickly to have any emotional impact -- turns to love. Swiftly, they are married and abandon Italy for Africa with less discussion than most couples would devote to the question of where to dine for the evening.
Then, within moments of their purchase of a ranch and with seemingly enough chores for a lifetime, Paolo is off with other white men who are suddenly his best buddies, leaving his bride and her small child to fend for themselves. What gives?
This pattern continues until his death, which stirs resentment but is never quite explored. His whole background and finances also go unexplained. Nor does the film ever probe the relations between whites and blacks in Kenya or other intimacies within the European community. Even the time period is vague, though the costumes and makeup hint that the story begins during the 1960s.
The film also develops the bad habit of lurching from crisis to crisis. Nearly all of the highlights the writers choose to dramatize from Gallmann's book concern emotional or physical traumas. Consequently, the film tips off its punches. An audience can see every tragedy coming from miles off, making the characters look foolish for stumbling so blindly into seemingly avoidable disaster.
Why, one wonders, after years in Africa, does Kuki never carry a gun? And why, if her 17-year-old son (Garrett Strommen) is going to play with poisonous snakes, does he not have an antidote for the venom near at hand? And why, if the family insists on chasing poachers off their ranch, does Paolo politely stop on a deserted road for a suspicious-looking hitchhiker?
The international cast also causes confusion, with Americans including Eva Marie Saint as Kuki's mother and Perez, an actor of German and Spanish origin, all playing Italians.
Hudson is most successful at establishing the lure of the African landscape, the awesome sunsets and sunrises and the ferocity of its ecosystems. Maurice Jarre's music successfully mixes African motifs with full-throated orchestral music. If nothing else, "I Dreamed of Africa" should contribute greatly to Kenyan tourism.
I DREAMED OF AFRICA
Columbia Pictures
Jaffilms
Producers: Stanley R. Jaffe, Allyn Stewart
Director: Hugh Hudson
Screenwriters: Paula Milne, Susan Shilliday
Based on the book by: Kuki Gallmann
Director of photography: Bernard Lutic
Production designer: Andrew Sanders
Music: Maurice Jarre
Co-producer: John D. Schofield
Costume designer: Shirley Russell
Editor: Scott Thomas
Color/stereo
Cast:
Kuki Gallmann: Kim Basinger
Paolo: Vincent Perez
Franca: Eva Marie Saint
Emanuele (7-year-old): Liam Aiken
Simon: Lance Reddick
Emanuele (teenage): Garrett Strommen
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
At times reminiscent of "Out of Africa" and the more recent "To Walk With Lions", "I Dreamed of Africa" starring Oscar winner Kim Basinger traffics in enough wild animals, rugged scenery and emotional trauma to give Columbia Pictures plenty of promotional hooks. Yet the episodic tale lacks a clear theme and sense of purpose, which may limit its boxoffice potential. The film is the closing-night screening in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Paula Milne and Susan Shilliday's screenplay is based on a memoir by Kuki Gallmann, an Italian woman who moved to Kenya with her young son (Liam Aiken) and new husband (Vincent Perez) to run a large cattle ranch. Life in Africa -- which, we are told ad infinitum, moves at "a different rhythm" -- creates a magnetic hold on these three tenderfeet, who come to love its magnificent grandeur and painful challenges.
Ever on guard against marauding wildlife, destructive storms and ruthless poachers, Kuki discovers that she must battle a more surprising adversary -- loneliness. Her husband disappears for long stretches of time to hunt big game or pal around with other men in the small European community.
Tragedies strike, too, from the deaths of animals to the devastating loss of family members. As the years roll by, Kuki learns that Africa claims a very high price from those who wish to dwell on her untamed land.
As staggering as this true story is -- with the kind of setbacks no one would dream of inflicting on fictional characters -- the filmmakers seem reticent to probe the private life of a living person and respected author. This results in more than a little ambiguity in its characterizations.
The relationship between Kuki and her husband, Paolo, is the chief puzzler. They are introduced at a moment of crisis, a mysterious nighttime auto accident in Italy. Both are badly injured, and others in the car are killed. Out of this tragedy is forged a friendship that quickly -- all too quickly to have any emotional impact -- turns to love. Swiftly, they are married and abandon Italy for Africa with less discussion than most couples would devote to the question of where to dine for the evening.
Then, within moments of their purchase of a ranch and with seemingly enough chores for a lifetime, Paolo is off with other white men who are suddenly his best buddies, leaving his bride and her small child to fend for themselves. What gives?
This pattern continues until his death, which stirs resentment but is never quite explored. His whole background and finances also go unexplained. Nor does the film ever probe the relations between whites and blacks in Kenya or other intimacies within the European community. Even the time period is vague, though the costumes and makeup hint that the story begins during the 1960s.
The film also develops the bad habit of lurching from crisis to crisis. Nearly all of the highlights the writers choose to dramatize from Gallmann's book concern emotional or physical traumas. Consequently, the film tips off its punches. An audience can see every tragedy coming from miles off, making the characters look foolish for stumbling so blindly into seemingly avoidable disaster.
Why, one wonders, after years in Africa, does Kuki never carry a gun? And why, if her 17-year-old son (Garrett Strommen) is going to play with poisonous snakes, does he not have an antidote for the venom near at hand? And why, if the family insists on chasing poachers off their ranch, does Paolo politely stop on a deserted road for a suspicious-looking hitchhiker?
The international cast also causes confusion, with Americans including Eva Marie Saint as Kuki's mother and Perez, an actor of German and Spanish origin, all playing Italians.
Hudson is most successful at establishing the lure of the African landscape, the awesome sunsets and sunrises and the ferocity of its ecosystems. Maurice Jarre's music successfully mixes African motifs with full-throated orchestral music. If nothing else, "I Dreamed of Africa" should contribute greatly to Kenyan tourism.
I DREAMED OF AFRICA
Columbia Pictures
Jaffilms
Producers: Stanley R. Jaffe, Allyn Stewart
Director: Hugh Hudson
Screenwriters: Paula Milne, Susan Shilliday
Based on the book by: Kuki Gallmann
Director of photography: Bernard Lutic
Production designer: Andrew Sanders
Music: Maurice Jarre
Co-producer: John D. Schofield
Costume designer: Shirley Russell
Editor: Scott Thomas
Color/stereo
Cast:
Kuki Gallmann: Kim Basinger
Paolo: Vincent Perez
Franca: Eva Marie Saint
Emanuele (7-year-old): Liam Aiken
Simon: Lance Reddick
Emanuele (teenage): Garrett Strommen
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 4/27/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.