‘The First Grader’ is a small, inspiring tale

In The First Grader, Oliver Litondo plays Maruge, an 84-year-old man whose dream is to attend primary school. He’s a former Mau Mau fighter, a Kenyan rebel who fought for freedom in the 20th century. Because of the country’s volatile history and the opportunities that were taken away from him when he was a child, Maruge yearns to fill in the holes of his upbringing.

With a new government initiative that offers a free education to all potential students of Kenya, the octogenarian decides to apply for school in his local village. At first, he’s laughed away by the teachers and students. This frail man with his walking stick and ancient ways should be getting ready for the deathbed, not for the classroom. But Maruge persists and eventually he finds himself sitting like a giant among a school of children.

His teacher is Jane Obinchu (the lovely Naomie Harris), a dedicated educator who realizes that Maruge stands for something deeper than simple math problems and reading lessons. By offering him a second chance in the classroom, Jane has the opportunity to reconcile the tortured history of Kenya. He is a man who not only deserves an education, but one who actually fought for that right. Although she too is vilified for her acceptance of Maruge, Jane stands firm, demanding the community respect this man and his wishes.

Where The First Grader loses steam is in the reaction to Maruge’s desire to be a student. It’s understandable that some villagers would laugh and point fingers, but the harsh reaction of the school’s superintendent and even education officials in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, seem out of place and oddly exaggerated. This may not be the case with the actual story that The First Grader is based on, but without any further subtext, one is left wondering why this African village is so afraid of an 84-year-old who wants to sit in a small chair and learn addition and subtraction. Where’s the threat?

The movie also suffers a tad from the inherent melodrama that accompanies any story considered “inspiring.” Litondo does a nice job of grounding the work and never oversells the silent power of Maruge. However, director Justin Chadwick cues a few too many “awww” moments. The movie also brushes over some of the plight in the Kenyan village and never utilizes Maruge’s Mau Mau past to its full potential. This is a man who experienced so much violence in his life that his present peaceful ways are astounding. But how did he become like this? How did he not become a victim of the despair?

The movie is content with the surface story of Maruge, and never dives deeper.

Despite its faults, The First Grader stands as a powerful film. There is no denying that Maruge is a vivid character whose educational stubbornness is soul-reviving. The real man must have been a sight to behold. Imagine fighting the tides of history with a No. 2 pencil and notebook.

• The First Grader

• 2011

• Directed by Justin Chadwick

• Written by Ann Peacock

• Starring Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo

• Running time: 103 minutes

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

• Bubble score: 3.5 out of 4

• Click here to purchase The First Grader on DVD.