In memory & honour of Kimani Maruge
An audience with Justin Chadwick
Justin Chadwick the director of The First Grader took time to speak to Kenya London News about his inspiring film; The First Grader.
The film is based on a true story of an 84 year old Kenyan, Kimani Maruge, who fought for independence and freedom, a mau mau warrior, goes back to school, and demands an education and learns to read, this is after Kenya’s Government under the leadership of President Kibaki extended free education to all.
The film deals with the power of education and whilst essentially an uplifting an inspiring story, the story deals with some hard hitting issues.
Justin’s film captures Kenya’s history (The struggle for independence) Kenya’s vision of the future (Education for all Kenyans). It’s a great reflection of Kenya that wants to move on, but must be allowed to deal with its past.
Justin had never been to Kenya, had never really followed the story of Kenya’s struggle for independence, his knowledge of Kenya was based on what he had read/seen in the western press, but as soon as he landed in this beautiful land, he fell in love with everything KENYA, the dust, the traffic jams, the humour of Kenyans and the hope. This is when he made the decision to make the film in Kenya.
South Africa had been the practical choice to shoot the film based on the country’s superior infrastructure yet Justin fought to shoot the film in Kenya. ‘Kenya has this unbelievable, inexplicable energy – the inherent in the children, and the people we were making the film about’ It was a different feeling and I wanted to capture and use this feeling in the film, giving the film the authentic edge it deserved’’. He told us
Justin spent time in Kenya researching, he spoke to education experts and real history of Kenya’s colonial past. Some stories were first hand and gave a true authenticity.
Justin met Mr Maruge then 89 and suffering with Cancer, despite being very sick, Maruge refused to give up, the spirit of a fighter that is Maruge, Justin tries to infuse in the film. ‘The power is in the pen’ Maruge told Justin. Maruge sadly died before the shooting started. But his story lives on to inspire many generations of Kenyans in The First Grader’
Asked about the challenges he faced while shooting in Kenya, Justice told us’ Shooting is difficult, it doesn’t matter where you are,’’ We began this project in February and by Christmas we had completed making this great movie’ This shocked us.
Kenya as a film making destination is growing, and the officials and the government are working to ensure support for home grown talent as well as sell Kenya as a Film destination. What struck Justin and the team was the amount of talent they found in the country. Unlike other films, we worked with the local talent, we did not have to import crews,’’ from professional creative departments, film makers, costume departments, technician etc.
We used the Kenyan talent; this gives the film the authenticity it deserves. Maruge is played by Oliver Litondo, a Kenyan who started his career as news reader while Jane Obinchu the teacher who defied authorities to take Maruge as a student is played by Naomi HARRIS known for her role in the Hollywood movie Pirates of the Caribbean.
Justin Chadwick ‘The First Grader’ tells the story of Kenya from a Kenyan perspective, highlighting the complicated colonial past, and the struggle and despite a slow pace, a country despite tribal differences that is ready to work with what unites them. Education!
It’s our story despite being told /made by a non Kenyan, It does not robe us of our dignity like most stories you see in the western headlines. Justin Chadwick in my words is our nation’s great ambassador.
‘The Power is in the pen’
Screening across the UK started on the 24th of June 2011, you are a KENYAN, and you must see this film.
Agnes
"shikug@aol.com" <shikug@aol.com>
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