The First Grader (2010)

The true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford.

Director:

Justin Chadwick

Writer:

Ann Peacock

Stars:

Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Tony Kgoroge

10 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Naomie Harris	...	Jane Obinchu
Oliver Litondo	...	Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge
Tony Kgoroge	...	Charles Obinchu
Alfred Munyua	...	Teacher Alfred
Shoki Mokgapa	...	Teacher Elizabeth
Vusi Kunene	...	Mr. Kipruto (as Vusimizi Michael Kunene)
Agnes Simaloi	...	Agnes
Kamau Mbaya	...	Kamau Chege
Emily Njoki	...	Young Maruge's wife
Lwanda Jawar	...	Young Maruge
Dan 'Churchill' Ndambuki	...	DJ Masha
Hannah Wacera	...	Maruge's Daughter
John Kimani	...	Maruge's Baby Son
Macharia Kamau	...	DJ's PA
Abubakar Mwenda	...	Boie

Storyline

Set in a mountain village in Kenya the film tells the remarkable true and uplifting story of a proud old Mau Mau veteran who is determined to seize his last chance to learn to read and write - and so ends up joining a class alongside six year-olds. Together he and his young teacher face fierce resistance, but ultimately they win through - and also find a new way of overcoming the burdens of the colonial past.

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Plot Keywords:

school | teacher | kenya | mau mau | kenyan | 

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Taglines:

It's never too late to dream.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some disturbing violent content and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

UK USA Kenya

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Az iskolakezdő

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$20,437 (USA) (13 May 2011)

Gross:

$330,533 (USA) (29 July 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sixth Sense Productions, Origin Pictures, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge: Do you think I'm too old to learn?
Jane Obinchu: My father had a saying. He was not an educated man, he was a fisherman, but he said 'you never stop learning until you have soil in your ears'.

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Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 20 June 2011 (2011)

User Reviews

Wow. Simply splendid.

I hardly write reviews but I do admit I am a sucker for education/teacher type movies, so I knew I've been wanting to see this movie for a while. I was so ecstatic that I got a copy of the DVD at my local library. I just finished it tonight and was extremely touched by the film. Kudos to Justin Chadwick and National Geographic for making this movie. I highly recommend it to everyone, regardless of your occupation as an educator or teacher, student, etc. Everyone should watch this film and be prepared to be moved by it like it moved me (and bring tissues)! Set in the stark but beautiful Kenya (I've always wanted to go there), it tells the remarkable and inspirational true story of an 84 year-old man, who is now my hero, to start the first grade. The message is quite clear, and that really is to truly NOT give up on your dreams. Just wished this movie had more publicity and at least maybe an Oscar nomination. Naomie Harris did very well and gave a convincing performance but the real star was Oliver Litondo. His role as Maruge let my heart ache and I have the utmost respect for him. I definitely teared up and learned bits and pieces about the horrific Mau Mau rebellion. I give it an A+!