Movie Review: The First Grader

The First Grader

Genre: Drama

Director: Justin Chadwick

Stars: Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Tony Kgoroge

***

The First Grader tells the true story of Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, an 84-year-old illiterate who lost his family during the Mau Mau uprising and was the oldest man in history to start public school when the Kenyan government instituted free education. As you’d expect, the film is an inspirational drama determined to empty its audience’s tear ducts at all costs. Maruge’s life is worthy of cinematic tear-jerking and the talented cast led by Oliver Litondo and Naomie Harris do justice to real people who inspired the film.