Cinema: I Dreamed Of Africa

Having survived a head-on collision on an Italian road, Kuki (Kim Basinger) and Paolo (Vincent Perez) decide to marry and quit their slightly decadent life. Africa is beautiful, of course, but also harsh: lions in the garden, poachers by the river, disease in the cattle. Also, Paolo develops the distressing habit of wandering off for weeks on end, hunting with the guys while Kuki tends the farm. Can authentic tragedy be far behind? No, but it is more surprising--and harrowing--than you can imagine, and this film, based on a true story, transcends its handsomeness to present a subtle portrait of a woman's growing consciousness.

--By Richard Schickel