Movie

The First Grader

2010 · 103 min

A moving, earnest drama that inspires.

Tagline: It's never too late to dream.
Overview: The true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford.
How it feels: Earnest, warm, melancholic and uplifting. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Education, identity, trauma, healing
Content: Mild violence and language. No gore or sexual content.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Add to a list: The First Grader

Rent in the US

More options Data from JustWatch

In your watch list

More like this

Like The First Grader, but

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: earneststrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
upliftingstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: education
identity
trauma
healing
justice
Places: small town
school
Era: contemporary
Audience: teen
Form: true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Rent

Buy

Genres: drama, history, romance
Directed by: Justin Chadwick
Written by: Ann Peacock
Starring: Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Nick Reding, Oliver Litondo, Alfred Munyua, Kamau Mbaya
Music: Alex Heffes
Cinematography: Rob Hardy
Runtime: 103 min
Country: United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya
Languages: Swahili, English