THE FIRST GRADER (2010)

Genre: Drama
Director: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Tony Kgoroge, Oliver Litondo, Vusi Kunene, Israel Makoe
RunTime: 1 hr 43 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Official Website: http://www.thefirstgrader-themovie.com/

Opening Day: 1 September 2011

Synopsis: In a small, remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge (Litondo), an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied―even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane Obinchu (Harris), supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don't want to waste a precious school place on such an old man. Full of vitality and humour, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with his classmates some eighty years his junior. Through Maruge's journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier where Maruge fought for the freedom of his country, eventually ending up in the extreme and harsh conditions of the British detention camps. Directed by Justin Chadwick (THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, BLEAK HOUSE) from a script by Emmy-winner Ann Peacock (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, KIT KITTRIDGE), THE FIRST GRADER is a heart warming and inspiring true story of one man's fight for what he believes is his right in order to overcome the burdens of his past. It is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of education .

Movie Review:

How do you know that filmmakers aren’t bulls***ing you when an incredibly motivating story unfolds before your eyes? How do you know that an inspiring tale of courage and determination can happen in real life? How do you know that there is some good in this increasingly cynical world we live in?

You just need to check whether these words appear on the movie’s promotional poster: Based on a true story.

And more often than not, such productions have a stirring screenplay which arouses the senses of its target audiences to achieve more in life. This Justin Chadwick directed film tells the true story of Kimani Maruge, an 84 year old Kenyan villager who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford. Not uplifting enough, our protagonist is also an ex freedom fighter who has seen the country’s colonial past and is determined to seize his last chance to learn to read and write.

If education is a topic you are passionate about, then this film is a must see. It weaves in timeless and universal messages about the importance of education in society, and has the veteran protagonist illustrate this poignant point. We have heard how one is never too old to learn, but with this film, you can experience and relive the liberation and exuberance of going to school.

It is especially interesting to see Oliver Litondo’s Maruge sitting side by side with six year olds in the dilapidated classroom (by Singapore’s standards, that is), in touch with books and pencils for the first time. With a back story of how he was part of the older generation that helped free Kenya from British colony, audiences will appreciate the dramatic arc writer Ann Peacock (Nights in Rodanthe) has created for the film. Besides, how can anyone not fall in love with Maruge, an old man in a school uniform, ever so earnest to learn?

The other star of the film is Naomie Harris’ Jane Obinchu, a teacher who not only fights for the rural school’s survival, but also faces off the fierce resistance that threatens to hinder education. Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Miami Vice) is wonderful as the passionate teacher who we wish we had. Her on screen pairing with Litondo (the actor is a familiar face at home, where he was an anchorman for Voice of Kenya and Kenya Television Network) is heartfelt and honest, and that easily makes this 2010 production one of the best films we’ve seen.

Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) has an eye to engage his viewers emotionally. The rural and urban landscapes are captured beautifully on film, and complemented by an affecting story that informs audiences of the country’s history, the result is an heartwarming movie that will speak universally to its viewers.

Producers Sam Feuer and Richard Harris had previously released the documentary short The First Grader: The True Story of Kimani N’ganga Maruge in 2006, and with this feature film, one can fully experience the incredible true story of a man’s journey to seek education, and the passion that an educator is willing to dedicate to make sure that he gets it.

Movie Rating:  

(A highly recommended film which boasts of an emotionally inspiring tale )

Review by John Li