The First Grader 2010

     This film is set in a remote mountain village in Kenya and it’s based on the true story of an 84 year-old man with the desire to learn how to read and write.  He tries to join six year-old children in their class but there are already several children to each desk.  The teachers tell him they can’t accept him but he is persistent and they let him start to learn.  There are many events in the classroom that cause him to have flashbacks to an earlier time in his life.  He was beaten, tortured and a prisoner of the British Army during the struggle for Kenya's independence.  Maruge is a Mau-Mau revolutionary and he was held 50 years ago.  The parents and government officials are worried that large numbers of adults will want to enroll in school.  There is a lot of negative pressure on the teacher for allowing Maruge to attend.

     This is a very different type of movie.  So many terrible things happened to Maruge and it’s a wonder that he is still alive.  He’s not afraid to show that he knows as little as the six year-olds at his advanced age.  He’s also not afraid to stand up physically to men who come to protest his presence at the school.  And, he’s brave enough to fight for the teacher.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Bio directed by Justin Chadwick with Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Tony Kgoroge, Alfred Munyua, Shoki Mokgapa, Vusi Kunene, Agnes Simaloi, Kamau Mbaya, Emily Njoki, Lwanda Jawar.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, 59% critic 76% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 90 reviews.