The First Grader (2010)

The story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau veteran 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

18 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Naomie Harris	...	Jane Obinchu
Oliver Litondo	...	Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge
Tony Kgoroge	...	Charles Obinchu
Alfred Munyua	...	Teacher Alfred
Shoki Mokgapa	...	Teacher Elizabeth
Vusi Kunene	...	Mr. Kipruto (as Vusumuzi Michael Kunene)
Agnes Simaloi	...	Agnes
Kamau Mbaya	...	Kamau Chege
Emily Njoki	...	Young Maruge's Wife
Lwanda Jawar	...	Young Maruge
Dan 'Churchill' Ndambuki	...	DJ Masha (as Daniel Ndambuki 'Churchill')
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:

briton | cellular phone | elementary school | schoolteacher | president | 

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Taglines:

It's never too late to dream.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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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 [Japan]

Country:

UK USA Kenya

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Az iskolakezdő

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,437, 15 May 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$330,533, 31 July 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films,UK Film Council,Videovision Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Kgoroge is a frequent collaborator with director Justin Chadwick, having also appeared in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013), another film Chadwick directed.

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Quotes

Jane Obinchu: Mmzee, they meant for children, not adults.
Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge: No, I heard it on the radio, with my own ears, they said 'everybody'.

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Crazy Credits

During the initial credits, there is 1. a photo of the real Maruge with some students. 2. a scene with the DJ mentioning Maruge's trip to the UN, and predicting that a Kenyan will ascend to the White House. 3. more scenes of the children at the school

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Hangover: Part II (2011)

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Soundtracks

Keep on Waiting
Artist: Kawesa
Composer: Alex Heffes
Master & Publisher: Resonant Music (1) Limited Partners
Administered by Fintage Music Publishing & Collection B.V
Used by permission.

User Reviews

A touching story

This film is about a 84-year-old man who insists on attending primary school, when the Kenyan government announces that there is free education for all.

"The First Grader" is about an elderly man who wants to be educated. His action provokes debate within the viewer, as we have to decide on how to interpret the Kenyan government's promise, ethical issues, effective allocation of public resources and opportunity costs. This topic is already very interesting and intellectually stimulating. There is also a subplot about the dark colonial history of Kenya, which probably aims to enhance the viewers' connection with the protagonist. However, I find the subplot ineffective without more detailed background history of Kenya, and more development on this subplot. Despite the shortcoming, "The First Grader" is still a touching and inspiring tale.