"Duma": a must-see for all cat lovers

Just saw a wonderful, adorable, charming, really terrific movie. "Duma",
about a South African boy who adopts an orphaned cheetah cub. The cheetah
grows up with the family and becomes their pet. They live on a farm, so
he's outdoors most of the time, but really, he's more domesticated than
my cats. He follows the boy around everywhere like a dog. (My cats
certainly don't do that!) There's an adorable scene of the boy in bed,
unable to fall asleep because the cheetah is in bed with him and purring
very loudly.

Ultimately this is a story of an adventure the two of them have together,
and no, nothing tragic happens to the cheetah. That's a little bit of a
spoiler, I guess, but I would never have been able to see it if I hadn't
at least known that much. The movie is very sweet, but without any cloying
Disney cutesyness. It's even based on a memoir written by the man who had
that experience when he was a boy, although I suppose the film takes a
few liberties with reality. It's beautiful to look at, too.

I don't think it's on DVD yet - I just saw it in a theater tonight. If
it's in your area, don't miss it!!

Joyce

My father used to have a cheetah as a pet (he lived in Botswana for
many years) and says it was one of the best pets he ever had.

Tish

On 07 Jan 2006 11:14:23 GMT, wrote:

Just saw a wonderful, adorable, charming, really terrific movie. "Duma",
about a South African boy who adopts an orphaned cheetah cub. The cheetah
grows up with the family and becomes their pet. They live on a farm, so
he's outdoors most of the time, but really, he's more domesticated than
my cats. He follows the boy around everywhere like a dog. (My cats
certainly don't do that!) There's an adorable scene of the boy in bed,
unable to fall asleep because the cheetah is in bed with him and purring
very loudly.

Ultimately this is a story of an adventure the two of them have together,
and no, nothing tragic happens to the cheetah. That's a little bit of a
spoiler, I guess, but I would never have been able to see it if I hadn't
at least known that much. The movie is very sweet, but without any cloying
Disney cutesyness. It's even based on a memoir written by the man who had
that experience when he was a boy, although I suppose the film takes a
few liberties with reality. It's beautiful to look at, too.

I don't think it's on DVD yet - I just saw it in a theater tonight. If
it's in your area, don't miss it!!

Joyce

Tish Silberbauer wrote:

My father used to have a cheetah as a pet (he lived in Botswana for
many years) and says it was one of the best pets he ever had.

Oh, really? Did the cheetah live with your dad throughout its life? What
kind of environment did your dad live in at that time, ie, was it rural,
suburban, etc?

Among the larger cats (I don't think cheetahs are technically classified
as "big cats", but they aren't exactly small), I think cheetahs are the
least aggressive, so their temperament would dispose them toward being
tamed more easily than other big cats, I would think.

This cheetah character was extremely charming. He was actually played
by several real-life cheetahs - and *not* by any product of computer
software. All scenes involved a real child and real cheetahs. Very
cool!

Joyce

On 2006-01-07 05:14:23 -0600, said:

Just saw a wonderful, adorable, charming, really terrific movie. "Duma",
about a South African boy who adopts an orphaned cheetah cub. The cheetah
grows up with the family and becomes their pet. They live on a farm, so
he's outdoors most of the time, but really, he's more domesticated than
my cats. He follows the boy around everywhere like a dog. (My cats
certainly don't do that!) There's an adorable scene of the boy in bed,
unable to fall asleep because the cheetah is in bed with him and purring
very loudly.

Ultimately this is a story of an adventure the two of them have together,
and no, nothing tragic happens to the cheetah. That's a little bit of a
spoiler, I guess, but I would never have been able to see it if I hadn't
at least known that much. The movie is very sweet, but without any cloying
Disney cutesyness. It's even based on a memoir written by the man who had
that experience when he was a boy, although I suppose the film takes a
few liberties with reality. It's beautiful to look at, too.

I don't think it's on DVD yet - I just saw it in a theater tonight. If
it's in your area, don't miss it!!

Joyce

I saw that advertised on March of the Penguins. I said to my friend,
"you mean there is a movie showing the GOOD about cats?" I can't wait
to see it.

I just watched the trailer, looks cool.
Thanks for the heads up. :-)

On 07 Jan 2006 11:14:23 GMT, wrote:

Just saw a wonderful, adorable, charming, really terrific movie. "Duma",
chop

wrote in message
...
Just saw a wonderful, adorable, charming, really terrific movie. "Duma",
about a South African boy who adopts an orphaned cheetah cub. The cheetah
grows up with the family and becomes their pet. They live on a farm, so
he's outdoors most of the time, but really, he's more domesticated than
my cats. He follows the boy around everywhere like a dog. (My cats
certainly don't do that!) There's an adorable scene of the boy in bed,
unable to fall asleep because the cheetah is in bed with him and purring
very loudly.

Ultimately this is a story of an adventure the two of them have together,
and no, nothing tragic happens to the cheetah. That's a little bit of a
spoiler, I guess, but I would never have been able to see it if I hadn't
at least known that much. The movie is very sweet, but without any cloying
Disney cutesyness. It's even based on a memoir written by the man who had
that experience when he was a boy, although I suppose the film takes a
few liberties with reality. It's beautiful to look at, too.

I don't think it's on DVD yet - I just saw it in a theater tonight. If
it's in your area, don't miss it!!

Joyce

Thanks. I'll definitely watch for it.

Joy