Cast: Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo
Arguably the most disappointing film of the festival, this cliché-ridden film offers absolutely nothing of merit, and can only have been included in the festival at the behest of the UK Film Council, who co-produced the film (which may explain its dismaying lack of quality). There is no criticising the source material – the true story of an 84-yr-old Kenyan, Maruge, who decided to take advantage of a government initiative to introduce free primary schooling to claim the education he always craved. Maruge is a member of the Mau-Mau tribe who fought the English occupation of their land. On receiving a letter from the liberated government thanking him for his loyalty to his country, Maruge decides he wants to be able to read it for himself. The beleaguered and uncaring school system, personified by the hotheaded Mr. Kibruto, makes things difficult for Maruge, but with the help of head teacher Jane, he manages to overcome discrimination and hostility and by the end of the film… he can read his letter.
The film does everything by the book – from the ‘beautiful’ sweeping desert landscapes and ‘luscious’ hues to the ‘powerful’ score and the ‘weeping’ performances – but it is all so predictable it makes Clint Eastwood look like Salvador Dali. The story is incredibly thin, and rather than working hard to find an interesting depth to the subject matter, the filmmakers opt for the cheap and easy alternative of bolting on a ‘political thriller’ element which sees gangs of marauding parents attacking the school while Jane receives threatening anonymous phone calls.
A ‘true story’ feature film has more in common with a painting of its subject than a photograph… such a film is necessarily defined by the temperament and artistic vision of its creators. Perhaps a few parents actually threw stones at the school building, perhaps Jane received a phone call; but that doesn’t represent the emotional heart of Maruge’s journey and the filmmakers’ decision to force this story through the ‘thriller’ mould is disappointing to say the least.
Arguably the most disappointing film of the festival, this cliché-ridden film offers absolutely nothing of merit, and can only have been included in the festival at the behest of the UK Film Council, who co-produced the film (which may explain its dismaying lack of quality). There is no criticising the source material – the true story of an 84-yr-old Kenyan, Maruge, who decided to take advantage of a government initiative to introduce free primary schooling to claim the education he always craved. Maruge is a member of the Mau-Mau tribe who fought the English occupation of their land. On receiving a letter from the liberated government thanking him for his loyalty to his country, Maruge decides he wants to be able to read it for himself. The beleaguered and uncaring school system, personified by the hotheaded Mr. Kibruto, makes things difficult for Maruge, but with the help of head teacher Jane, he manages to overcome discrimination and hostility and by the end of the film… he can read his letter.
The film does everything by the book – from the ‘beautiful’ sweeping desert landscapes and ‘luscious’ hues to the ‘powerful’ score and the ‘weeping’ performances – but it is all so predictable it makes Clint Eastwood look like Salvador Dali. The story is incredibly thin, and rather than working hard to find an interesting depth to the subject matter, the filmmakers opt for the cheap and easy alternative of bolting on a ‘political thriller’ element which sees gangs of marauding parents attacking the school while Jane receives threatening anonymous phone calls.
A ‘true story’ feature film has more in common with a painting of its subject than a photograph… such a film is necessarily defined by the temperament and artistic vision of its creators. Perhaps a few parents actually threw stones at the school building, perhaps Jane received a phone call; but that doesn’t represent the emotional heart of Maruge’s journey and the filmmakers’ decision to force this story through the ‘thriller’ mould is disappointing to say the least.
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