For this reviewer, The First Grader, produced by National Geographic Entertainment, promised to be a heartfelt story about overcoming many of the things that Americans take for granted, and there are many. Beyond what I expected to be a terrific story that would entice my political yearnings and interest, the tease that this story, based on the real life premise that no matter one’s age the promise of education in a country and political climate in constant turmoil is so desired and pure that the chance to achieve in spite of a persons past was possible, had me excited.
The primary school principal Jane (Harris) finds Maruge’s passion and journey worthy and so begins what should have been a story of utter courage and an uplifting message. Sadly, even though the on location scenes were beautiful, the supporting cast consisting of local children was surreal, and the script actually quite good, director Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) never finds a way of telling the story that tugs at our emotions the way you both anticipate and expect. Much of the film utilizes flashbacks to help tell Maruge’s troubling and torturous past and although your investment in the relationship between the teacher and the older student is real, as the story unfolds with real life backlash; both parental and governmental, this is where the story should have elevated the viewer and played into what the reality was and is, and unfortunately this is where the narrative gets lost, and it’s a shame.
Often films of this kind suffer from limited distribution and struggle to find a domestic audience. When you have the beauty and backdrop of a majestic country and the reality of a true heart-pulling story and some terrific acting performances, including the cast of children who have no acting experience at all and, in fact, none of them have even seen a movie, you are left to wonder why this movie fails, and ultimately it just doesn’t deliver on any of the promises you feel were made.
