The First Grader (2010)
Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 71
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 29
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 7
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 2,124
My Rating
Movie Info
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 (Oliver 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
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Cast
-
Oliver Litondo
Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge,... -
Naomie Harris
Jane Obinchu -
Emily Njoki
Young Maruge's Wife -
Hannah Wacera
Maruge's Daughter -
John Kimani
Maruge's Baby Son -
Lwanda Jawar
Young Maruge -
Daniel Ndambuki
DJ Masha -
Macharia Kamau
DJ's PA -
Abubakar Mwenda
Boie -
Tom Gitau
Old Codger -
Watson Mbirua
Old Codger -
Shadrack Murimi Gachuhi
Old Codger -
Mwenga Matilika
Old Codger -
Agnes Simaloi
Agnes -
Alfred Munyua
Teacher Alfred -
Shoki Mokgapa
Teacher Elizabeth -
Kathyline Ndogori
Teacher Katherine -
Israel Makoe
David Chege -
Kamau Mbaya
Kamau Chege -
Shirlen Wangari
Mother Wanjiku -
Benta Ochieng
Mother Benta -
Peter Emera Pious
Jonas -
Joel Rempesa
Joel -
Peter Marias
Peter -
Eunice Tekero
Village Woman -
Jackie Musimbi
Village Girl -
Susan Sisian
Young Mother -
Tony Kgoroge
Charles Obinchu -
Kurenda ole Kureya
Maasai Store Owner -
Nick Redding
Officer Johnson -
Nick Ndichu
Mau Mau Oath Giver -
Paul Mbogo
Mau Mau Leader -
Zingaro Percussions
Mau Mau Warriors -
Jeannette Elsworth
Plantation Owner's Wife -
Kamau Wa Ndung'u
John Gambe -
Vusumuzi Michael Kunene
Mr. Kipruto -
Mary Mbirua
Stall Owner -
Catherine Njiru
Stall Owner -
Mumbi Kaigwa
Education Secretary -
Charles Ouda
Adult School Teacher -
Rachel Jones
BBC Journalist -
Lydia Gitachu
CNN Journalist -
Sam Feuer
American Journalist -
Gilbert Lukhalia
Mr. Mutahi/Politician -
Melvin Alusa
Mr. Mutahi's Aide -
Irene Kariuki
Mrs. Muthumba -
Rosemary Nyambura
Jacquie (P.A. to the Ch... -
Ainea Ojiambo
Education Official -
Michael Oyier
Newsreader -
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All Critics (72) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (29) | DVD (1)
It's funny how 'real life' sometimes conforms so closely to hackneyed patterns of screenwriting.
Top CriticThe First Grader is every bit as inspiring and heart-warming as you'd expect.
The filmmaking is ... uneven, filled with charming picture-postcard scenes of smiling children and African sunshine that seem crafted for a different film than one with moments of horrific flashbacks.
The story is uplifting in a predictably pro-education, antiwar, feel-good way, warmth and humor balancing the heavy moments.
Stow your cynicism and give this lesson in continuing education the response it deserves -- more than a polite clap, maybe even a sitting ovation.
It's a middle-of-the-road film.
An earnest "true story" that hits many of the expected importance-of- education grace notes, but never quite achieves a lump-in-your-throat reaction
achieves a poignant, humanist sincerity
The First Grader is a self-congratulatory and subtlety-free slog that makes saints of its protagonists, devils out of its antagonists and narcoleptics out of its audience.
With the melodrama cranked up as high as it is, it's hard to believe this was a true story.
An uplifting, romanticised and gently-paced film infused with the dry beauty of the Kenyan landscape and powered by the moist-eyed performance of Oliver Litondo in the title role
Based on real events, The First Grader is a unique blend of uplifting self determination and harrowing conflict
Learning never ends is the message of this inspiring true story set in Kenya in which an 84 year old villager joins local primary students in a bid to learn how to read. It's a great story
A pass mark, just, for preachy African melodrama.
Director Justin Chadwick's film is sort of corny, not surprisingly, but it is inspiring and full of real feeling at times.
Wholesome and uplifting in the classic carpe diem manner and Harris is a lot more attractive than Robin Williams.
Even if the story runs on predictable lines, it remains hugely affecting.
Seems to go on for ever and manipulates its audience in the most naïve of ways.
A predictable but inspiring story of an 84-year-old, one-time Mau Mau warrior, who insists on an education at a Kenyan primary school.
While too many young people take education for granted in this country, The First Grader illustrates the need for older folks to be educated, too.
Ann Peacock's didactic screenplay may be based on a true story, but it's hopelessly unconvincing in the way it manufactures and resolves conflicts.
The screenplay sticks to a tried and trusted formula which tends to lessen the emotional impact of an amazing true story.
It's a complex scenario, but this movie winds up telling a straightforward, and slightly sucrose, heartwarming tale.
Audience Reviews for The First Grader
Super Reviewer
The best stories are still those where bad things happen to good people but in the end everyone gets what they deserve.
Super Reviewer
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- Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge: Learn till the soil gets in your ears.
-
- Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge: We have to learn from our past because we must not forget, and because we must be better.
-
- Jane Obinchu: Class we have a new student today!
-
- Jane Obinchu: Why does someone as old as you want to go to school?
Discussion Forum
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Foreign Titles
- First Grader, The (AU)
