Star shines bright for 'The First grader' actor

By GEORGE ORIDO

Oliver Litondo's film credits and prowess have so far been based on his association with the world greatest talents. But this might just change when he himself becomes the point of reference by great stars who will not hesitate to mention featuring in a movie with him in their future resumes.

Going by the sheer number of nominations he is earning in the world stage for his role in the movie The First Grader, this is likely to be the scenario soon.

Splendid performance

The First Grader, a film about Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, the world’s oldest primary school pupil who started school at age 84, gave Litondo the opportunity to put forward his best – and he didn’t disappoint as he gave a splendid performance.

Litondo’s chequered acting career includes character roles in The Wilby Conspiracy with Sydney Poitier and Michael Caine, The Bush Trackers, and the TV movie Ivory Hunters. He was given the lead role opposite Naomie Harris in The First Grader.

The former news anchor for then Voice of Kenya (now KBC) and later KTN recently earned the Best Actor award by the Black Film Critics Circle.

But February 6 would be the best day of his life as all eyes will be focused on Litondo, 63, when he takes his seat at the awards gala in Beverly Hills as the jury announces The Best Actor in the 2012 Movies for Grownups Award. The jury will base their announcement on the results of the AARP Magazine nominations.

And four days later he will be headed for the Black Reel Awards 2012 after being nominated for the Most Outstanding Actor.

These buzz of nominations come hot on the heels of his being named the Best Actor by the Kenya International Film Festival last year.

His co-star, Harris, also won the Best Actress Award, while The First Grader won the Best Film Award.

In his acceptance speech at the ceremony, Litondo spoke passionately about Kenya’s film industry and the efforts of the producers and director of The First Grader.

"Today marks a crucial turning point in the history of film in Kenya. This win heralds a new dawn where The First Grader might just win an Oscar," said an elated Litondo who had just fllown from Kisumu for the occasion held at the Siverbirds Cinema on Ngong Road, Nairobi.

He was one of the few Kenyan artistes who received the Order of The Grand Warrior (OGW) State honour last year.

National hero

"The crowning moment for me, was on October 20, last year, when President Kibaki named me a national hero for my lifetime achievement in film and broadcasting."

He added, "That award makes me a national treasure, an honour I greatly cherish."

Litondo and the film are earning raving reviews and commentaries from some of the most respected social personalities of the world.

Fox News Los Angeles recently featured Litondo and The First Grader during its prime time news when interviewing the film producer, Sam Feuer.

Los Angeles Times, which first broke Mzee Maruge’s story in the USA and which led the two young American producers to Kenya to look for Maruge for rights to make a movie out of his story, had to be in the picture too.

It wrote a front-page story about The First Grader’s quest for an Oscar, comparing The First Grader to David of the Goliath Hollywood movies.

Celebrated actor Whoopi Goldberg was one of the earlier mega stars who urged viewers on her show, The View, "to run, go see the film".

And bloggers are at it too. Notable Hollywood critics Roger Ebert wrote, "This film’s imagery places it on par with cinema’s great sentimental masterpieces, Umberto D, Tokyo Story and Ikiru. From the first frame the film warns that it is working in a universe of pure emotion."

Directed by Justin Chadwick from a script by Emmy-winner Ann Peacock, The First Grader is a heartwarming and inspiring true story of one man’s fight for what he believes is his right in order to overcome the burdens of his past. It is a triumphant testimony of the transforming force of education.

Caused a stir

The filming process itself was quite extraordinary, as the children in the film – who are in many ways the stars – had never even seen a film or television set before, let alone being involved in the filming process.

Their involvement in the shoot was a totally novel experience for them and their enthusiasm and energy is captured beautifully on screen.

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 a stir when he knocks on the door of the school. Mzee Maruge was ready to start school at the very beginning.