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ERA
Did you know
Released 16 years ago.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
The First Grader
"It's never too late to dream."
2010 1h 43m EN
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7.1
SOLID
β
7.1TMDB Β· 104
DramaHistoryRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
βIt's never too late to dream.β
Cast
Naomie Harris
Jane Obinchu
Tony Kgoroge
Charles Obinchu
Nick Reding
Officer Johnson
Oliver Litondo
Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge
Alfred Munyua
Kamau Mbaya
Kamau Chege
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Justin Chadwick
- Writers
- Ann Peacock
- Languages
- Swahili, English
- Countries
- United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
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WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Swahili, English.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Justin Chadwick, shot by Rob Hardy. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Alex Heffes. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Paul Knight shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
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CAST
Did you know
Naomie Harris and Tony Kgoroge and Nick Reding carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
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FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "It's never too late to dream.".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Justin Chadwick directs. Rob Hardy behind the camera. Alex Heffes scores. Paul Knight cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya. Dialogue in Swahili, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 16 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Swahili, English.
- 3International production across 3 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, Kenya.
- 4Directed by Justin Chadwick, shot by Rob Hardy. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Alex Heffes. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Paul Knight shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Naomie Harris and Tony Kgoroge and Nick Reding carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "It's never too late to dream.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0790663 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Rob Hardy
- Original score
- Alex Heffes
- Editing
- Paul Knight
- Production design
- Vittoria Sogno
- Costume design
- Sophie Oprisano
- Stunt coordinator
- Charles K. Kembero
- Runtime
- 103 min Β· 1h 43m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG-13
Also by
Justin Chadwick
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- SI
Sixth Sense Productions
BBC Film
GB
UK Film Council
GB
- VI
Videovision Entertainment
ZA
Lipsync Productions
GB
ARTE
FR
- BI
Big Boy Films
Origin Pictures
GB
Key crew
- First Assistant DirectorDavid 'Tosh' Gitonga
- StuntsJoseph Kuria
- Production ExecutiveJane Hawley
- StuntsPatrick Owour
- StuntsEvans Omondi Sanda
- StuntsMathias Nyamai
- StuntsThomas Odhiambo Misango
- StuntsBernard W. Thinguri
- StuntsMatthew Anaani Muubwa
- StuntsJudy Karani
- Stunt CoordinatorCharles K. Kembero
- StuntsMaina Kariuki
- Sound Effects EditorBen Meechan
- ProducerSam Feuer
- Unit ManagerPatrick Musyimi
- CastingMoonyeenn Lee
- Executive ProducerNorman Merry
- EditorPaul Knight
- Costume DesignSophie Oprisano
- Production ManagerHemal Shah
- Co-ProducerTrevor Ingman
- ProducerRichard Harding
- Associate ProducerNicola Blacker
- Production DesignVittoria Sogno
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- uniform
- village
- education
- based on true story
- teacher
- kenya
- school
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Premiere2010-09-04PG-13Β· Telluride Film Festival
- Theatrical (limited)2011-03-10Β· Miami International Film Festival
- Theatrical (limited)2011-05-19Β· Seattle International Film Festival
- Theatrical (limited)2011-05-13
- Theatrical (limited)2011-01-16Β· Palm Springs International Film Festival
- Theatrical (limited)2011-05-01Β· USA Film Festival
Also known as
International titles
- The First Grader - Il Primo GradoIT
- Uma Lição de VidaBR
- O AlunoBR
- νΌμ€νΈ κ·Έλ μ΄λKR
