Synopsis
In a small , remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied - even if It means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teach Jane Obinchu, supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don’t want to waste a precious school place on a such an old man. Full of vitality and humour, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with his classmates some eighty years his junior. Through Maruge’s journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier where Maruge fought for the freedom of his country, eventually ending up in the extreme and harsh condition of the British detention camps.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $20,437 (6.2% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 5.81 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 93.4% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 3 opening theaters/36 max. theaters, 4.4 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $451,725 |
Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists
| Record | Rank | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 10,701-10,800) | 10,776 | $332,306 |
| All Time International Box Office (Rank 22,901-23,000) | 22,950 | $23,425 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 19,501-19,600) | 19,589 | $355,731 |
| All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) | 2,983 | $332,306 |
See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | May 13th, 2011 (Limited) by National Geographic Entertainment |
| International Releases: | November 23rd, 2012 (Wide) (Taiwan) |
| MPAA Rating: | PG-13 for some disturbing violent content and brief nudity. (Rating bulletin 2160, 2/23/2011) |
| Running Time: | 103 minutes |
| Comparisons: | vs. 2018 Oscar Shorts Create your own comparison chart… |
| Keywords: | Delayed Adulthood, Academics, Returning Soldiers, Inspirational Teacher, Autumn Years, Biography |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Dramatization |
| Production/Financing Companies: | BBC Films, UK Film Council, Videovision Entertainment, Lipsync Productions, ARTE France, Sixth Sense, Origin Pictures Productions |
| Production Countries: | Kenya |
| Languages: | English |