I Am David

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I Am David

PG

2004

1h 32m

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

David (Ben Tibber) is a 12-year-old on his own in an Eastern European prison camp. His best friend, Johannes (James Caviezel), protects and looks after him. One day, David is able to escape, and he embarks on a mission to deliver a sealed envelope to Denmark. Along the way, he saves a young girl (Viola Carinci) from a fire, befriends an elderly Swiss woman (Joan Plowright) and learns the value of trusting others. But what David discovers in Denmark truly changes his life forever.

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Critics Consensus

I Am David smothers its heartwarming story in narrative contrivances that ultimately render suspension of disbelief - or enjoyment - all but impossible.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Dec 8, 2004

B-

Clearly, huge tankers of disbelief must be suspended in a sea of goodwill to get into the spirit of the film.

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Eric Harrison

Houston Chronicle

Dec 3, 2004

2/4

The film is marred by too many coincidences, but there are a couple of twists at the end that tug at the heartstrings and leave you with a warm feeling.

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John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

Dec 3, 2004

2/4

Feig's neorealist approach to the look of the film might work better if he didn't fill it with so many coincidences and melodramatic flourishes.

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Peter T. Chattaway

Christianity Today

Sep 25, 2006

2/4

While some parents might wish the film had more emotional depth, they will probably appreciate the gentle humor. Then they can introduce their children to the book.

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Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

Dec 5, 2004

3/5

It's like Tom Sawyer's Great Escape - a strange combination of stories that's interesting, but doesn't quite capture your emotions.

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Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

Dec 4, 2004

B-

It is not an especially brilliant film, nor does it execute its ideas with particular flair, and yet I cannot resist liking and being moved by it.

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Chris P

@RT06285801 Oct 31, 2025

Great movie. I had watched this years ago, had forgotten about it, and stumbled across it today. A great find

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Ezra H

@RT60210887 May 20, 2025

First of all why is David chunky and his eyes are not empty. I rated it a 2 because I fell asleep and had a nice dream I read the book though Ill tell you about the rock though maybe not though but David does get drunk which is the only part which is part of the book director must have been high

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Sandea K

@RT43180407 Jan 9, 2025

Critics are way off on this film. It's a beautiful story. Typically on Rotten Tomatoes, if the critics don't like it, I definitely will watch it and like it.

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Henry S

@RT42275315 Apr 25, 2023

Such a beautifully crafted film! You can feel the love and dedication that was put in every part of this movie. A must see. One of my all time favorite films, the way it addresses suffering, trauma, goodness, trust, love, freedom, it's truly a masterpiece.

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Jun 2, 2022

The typically left neo-marxist critics didn’t like it because of the negative content about communism. So obvious

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Apr 15, 2021

For a 7 mil budget, not bad. If you lost your family and were thrown into a political concentration camp, seen your best friend murdered, and had very little hope of surviving, how would you deal with it? Now imagine your only 10 years old. This aspect is what carried my interest. How the film ends is not as emotionally fulfilling as we would like. But, life isn't Disney on parade. Time doesn't always heal psychological trauma.

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Paul Feig

Director

Ben Tibber

David

Joan Plowright

Sophie

Jim Caviezel

Johannes

Maria Bonnevie

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Silvia De Santis

Elsa

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Synopsis

David (Ben Tibber) is a 12-year-old on his own in an Eastern European prison camp. His best friend, Johannes (James Caviezel), protects and looks after him. One day, David is able to escape, and he embarks on a mission to deliver a sealed envelope to Denmark. Along the way, he saves a young girl (Viola Carinci) from a fire, befriends an elderly Swiss woman (Joan Plowright) and learns the value of trusting others. But what David discovers in Denmark truly changes his life forever.

Director: Paul Feig
Producer: Davina Belling, Lauren Levine, Clive Parsons
Screenwriter: Paul Feig
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Walden Media
Rating: PG (Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 3, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $284.0K
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround

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