Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- poignant
- hopeful
- family movie night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics recognized the film's humane historical premise and child-centered emotional message, but broadly found its execution unconvincing and overly sentimental.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
David begins the journey with instinctive mistrust and slowly learns to smile, share, trust, and love.
David's escape from the camp and passage across Europe mark his first sustained encounter with freedom and adulthood.
The plot begins with David escaping a Communist concentration camp in 1952 Bulgaria and crossing into Western Europe.
David moves from the enclosed camp environment into the broader roads, towns, and countries of Europe.
Films like I Am David, and why
The Book Thief
child protagonist confronting wartime displacement and rediscovering trust through a journey across Europe
Empire of the Sun
emotionally direct historical drama about a child navigating persecution, danger, and human kindness
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
adventure drama centered on a young refugee's journey toward safety and belonging
The Journey of Natty Gann
hopeful coming-of-age travel narrative shaped by political oppression and encounters with compassionate adults
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Release Date
- 2003-12-03
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (113)
Cast
- Ben Tibber
- Jim Caviezel
- Joan Plowright
- Hristo Shopov
- Silvia De Santis
- Paco Reconti
- Roberto Attias
- Francesco De Vito
- Paul Feig
- Lucy Russell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is I Am David about?
- A traumatized boy escapes a Communist camp and crosses Cold War Europe, discovering that freedom can include trust, kindness, and love.
- What is I Am David like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of I Am David as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is I Am David violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in I Am David as mild.
- What did critics think of I Am David?
- Critics recognized the film's humane historical premise and child-centered emotional message, but broadly found its execution unconvincing and overly sentimental.
- Which films are like I Am David?
- Films with a similar feel include The Book Thief, Empire of the Sun, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and The Journey of Natty Gann.
- How long is I Am David?
- I Am David runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch I Am David?
- In United States, I Am David streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
