I Dreamed of Africa

A bored Italian socialite (Kim Basinger) abandons her jet-set lifestyle for the rigors and rewards of rural Kenya in this true story, based on the best-selling memoir by Kuki Gallmann. Directed by Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire). In 1972, In Italy, the divorced Kuki has a young son and like to party most of the nights. When she has a serious car accident, she survives but stays for a long time at the hospital, where she reflects about her meaningless life. The driver, Paolo Gallmann, feels guilty and visits her several times. He also befriends her son Emanuele "Ema" and Kuki and Paolo love Africa. They decide to get married and move to Kenya, for the derelict ranch Ol ari Nyiro that they can afford. Throughout the years, they build and rebuild their estate due to storm and animals and Emanuele goes to a boarding school. He likes to collect snakes and Kuki does not object provided they are not poison. One day, Paolo has a car accident and dies, leaving Kuki pregnant of a baby girl that she raises alone. When Emanuele is seventeen, he is accepted by Stanford University. After his farewell party, he has an accident with a viper that will charge a high price from Kuki for living in Africa. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Kuki, a divorced Italian socialite, changes her life after a serious car crash. She accepts a marriage proposal from Paolo Gallmann, a man she doesn't know well, and she moves to Kenya with him and her young son to start a cattle ranch. Challenges beset her, not the least of which is Paulo's love of danger and his leaving for days on end to hunt and fish with pals. She must face fierce storms, roving lions, venomous snakes, and murderous poachers, and she must find accommodation with a neighboring tribe. Her mother entreats her to return home. Can Kuki live her dream, tame Paolo, guide her son safely past the perils and errors of youth, and serve Africa? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>