{"id":318,"date":"2011-08-24T07:52:22","date_gmt":"2011-08-24T12:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blackworldcinema.net\/blog\/?p=318"},"modified":"2025-06-03T00:35:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T05:35:23","slug":"the-first-grader-sept-7-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackworldcinema.net\/blog\/2011\/08\/24\/the-first-grader-sept-7-8\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Grader, Sept 7 & 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>THE FIRST GRADER, Kenya\/UK 2010
\nDirected by Justin Chadwick
\nstarring Oliver Litondo, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge and Nick Reding<\/p>\n

Wed, Sept 7, 7:00 pm
\nICE Theaters Lawndale<\/strong>
\n3330 W Roosevelt Road<\/p>\n

Thursday, Sept 8, 7:00 pm
\nICE Theaters Chatham<\/strong>
\n210 W 87th Street
\nicetheaters.com<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0blackworldcinema.net<\/wbr><\/a>
\nAdmission: $5.00<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied – even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds.
\nMoved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris), supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don\u2019t want to waste a precious school place on such an old man.<\/p>\n