‘I Am David’ Conveys A Message Of Courage, Hope

JANE WILSON, Special Contributor

Published: December 9, 2004

“I Am David” is a lovely film that illustrates the strength and resilience of the human spirit and the ways in which hope can triumph over despair.

Written and directed by Paul Feig and based on a novel (“North to Freedom”) by Anne Holm, “I Am David” is the story of a 12-year-old boy who has spent most of his life in a prison camp in Bulgaria. The only memory David has of life outside the camp is a half-remembered dream about his mother, and the only kindness he has seen inside the camp comes from the friendship of a fellow prisoner, Johannes (played by Jim Caviezel).

When David is given the chance to escape, he takes it, even though it means risking his life. He must travel across post-World War II Europe—south through Bulgaria and Greece, across the Mediterranean, then up through Italy and Switzerland toward Denmark. He is equipped only with a compass, half a loaf of bread, a pocketknife, a bar of soap and the advice to “trust no one.”

Although the scenario sounds grim, the film is actually a heartwarming story of how the boy learns to survive in the larger world and, most importantly, learns to trust and love again. When David makes his way toward Denmark, as he has been instructed, he must use his wits to escape detection and fend for himself. With no experience of life outside the camp, even the simplest task of buying a loaf of bread is beyond his understanding.

He meets a variety of characters along the way, some well-meaning, others less so. Some, primarily police and soldiers who try to question or stop him, reinforce his distrust of authority. Others provide comic relief and assistance, like the happy-go-lucky sailor he meets aboard ship or the stranded American tourists who try to ask for help in laughably incorrect Italian. Others give David a glimpse of what a comfortable life could be like, such as the wealthy Italian family who take him into their home. From each encounter, David learns more about the world and how to become a part of it.

The most important friend he makes is Sophie, an older woman he meets by chance on a hillside. Expertly portrayed by veteran actress Joan Plowright, Sophie takes a liking to David, and eventually her straightforward compassion earns his love and trust. She teaches him that, by nature, most people are essentially good and try to do the best they can. David’s breakthrough with Sophie eventually leads him to the end of his journey.

Two particular scenes in the film mark the magnitude of the journey David takes and the progress he makes in simple, yet memorable, ways. The first occurs as David is traveling toward Milan. He has hitched a ride, and as he sits in the cab of the truck, he puts his arm out of the window and lets his hand play in the wind. This is the first time that the boy has known the simple pleasure of riding along on a sunny day with the wind whistling by, and the freedom seems exhilarating.

The second scene occurs later in the film after David has met Sophie. He wanders into a church, stopping to hear the music of a choir practicing. A policeman enters the church as well, and David turns to him. After a moment of panic, the boy cautiously says hello. Considering the persecution he has experienced at the hands of the military and the police, the courage it takes for David to face a man in uniform with composure is stunning. This signals a huge breakthrough for David. In the course of the film he goes from a boy who literally does not know how to smile to a young man who can love and trust other people.

Ben Tibber gives a pitch-perfect performance as David. He is solemn and cautious, without drifting into overwrought misery. He portrays David as a smart, caring individual, who has learned by necessity to be utterly independent. The scenes between David and Sophie are heartrending as the boy opens up to the woman who has shown him such understanding.

“I Am David” is a wonderful choice for a holiday film, suitable for older children and adults. It has depth and a message of courage and hope perfectly suited to this time of year.