The First Grader is a Kenyan film based on a true story: the story of Kimani Maruge, a Kenyan farmer who enrolled in elementary school for the first time in his life at the age of 84. Maruge was successful in his struggle, and became world famous, as he was invited to the UN to advocate for later life education. The movie stars Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, and Tony Kgoroge.
The plot describes the challenges Maruge (the older man) faces in his quest to fulfill his life long dream: to learn to read. This has become possible following the Kenyan government's announcement of free universal primary education in 2003.
The movie is a bit long, and a bit slow, but is emotionally moving and successful in transferring the unique Kenyan historical context of the struggle for independence from the British colonial rule, and the personal price many of the members of the Mau Mau tribe, who led the uprising, paid.
From a gerontological perspective, I think this is an excellent movie to trigger discussions and debates about the challenges and significance of learning in old age. Geragogy (the scientific field of education and learning in old age) is a relatively neglected field within gerontology. However, life long learning and life long education is much more discussed these day, especially within the context of policies such as AA - Active Aging, or "Age Friendly" localities. As the movie exemplifies, one cannot simply "place" an older person in a regular school, if one wants to truly be successful in later life education.
While it has its limitation (the plot overall is quite expected and a bit over simplified) - it is an enjoyable movie, and certainly an important gerontological movie.
2010
Kenya
Director: Justin Chadwick
Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2vSWTU8qgU
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