The First Grader
I went to see The First Grader last night, and it reminded me of exactly why I started Stray Cinema. To let more people use film - which is such a powerful and influential medium - to tell their stories.
This beautifully shot film is set in a small Kenyan village. While the story is told in a rather traditional way, the content is unique to anything I have ever seen on film.
It gives insights to war, culture, and some unique relationships in Kenya, though the later seems to be an embellishment. But you know what, I'm ok with that, if it means the film appeals to, and is seen by a wider audience.
I was very moved by this film, stories like this are rare and important. While this is not a true independent film, with the increasing accessibility of digital film, more people, different people, are getting the opportunity to tell their stories. And the internet provides an accessible platform for these stories to be seen and heard. We live in exciting times.
By michelle, 6 months ago