Short Takes:'The First Grader,''Hey Boo,''Forks Over Knives'

"TheFirst Grader"— 3 STARS
Drama about an octogenarian former revolutionary's struggles to read. (1:43) PG. At the Beekman and Angelika.

More tough-minded than soft-hearted, thisAfrica-set drama about past sins and late redemption has unexpected depth. Kimani (Oliver Litando) is an 84-year-old former rebel whose violent actions with the Mau Mau a half-century ago helped moveKenyaaway from British rule. Nearing the end of his life, he asks an elementary school teacher (Naomie Harris) to help him to read. As Kimani sits in her class of 5-year-olds, flashbacks give us glimpses of what brought him to this place and what still haunts him.Director Justin Chadwick("The Other Boleyn Girl") shows admirable restraint bringing this true story to the screen, and Litando does much with glimmers of emotion and wells of dignity. 



"Hey Boo"— 4 STARS
Documentary about authorHarper Lee. (1:22) Not rated. At the Quad.

The masterwork novel, the decision to not follow it up, no interviews of any type in over four decades— Harper Lee's life is now merged with that of"To Kill a Mockingbird,"herPulitzer Prize-winning, ever-so-perfect 1960 evocation that needs no introduction. 

There are plenty of clips from theOscar-winning1962 film adaptation, snippets of radio interviews Lee gave and an examination of her friendship withTruman Capote. Murphy also reveals one more gem when she interviews theNew Yorkcouple who gave their friend Nell Harper Lee a financial gift in the '50s that allowed her to quit her job and finish the book, an act of generosity that is also one more kindness surrounding this most humane of artworks. The testimonials fromOprah,Tom Brokaw, esteemed novelists and luminaries are welcome, but for the still-relevant impact of the story, look in the eyes of the high school kids directorMary McDonagh Murphyspeaks with as they discuss Scout,Boo Radley,Tom RobinsonandAtticus Finch. They just came out of walking in their shoes, and no other testament is needed.

"Forks Over Knives"--3 STARS
Documentary about a radical way to reduce disease and cut health-care costs. (1:30) PG. At the Landmark and Sunshine Cinema.

The radical notion at the heart of the acclaimed doc"Forks Over Knives"is that eating animals and animal-produced foods has costs -- on our economy, our health-care system and on ourselves. In the midst of interviewing health experts, physicians, practioners of plant-based diets and other enlightened sorts, directorLee Fulkersontakes that most basic of steps: He gets a full checkup. Though he'd long considered himself in fine health, if not exactly in great shape, what he learns startles him into following a diet quite different from the one the government and theFDAhas long said is good for us: Specifically, no milk, no eggs and sources of protein from places other than red meat. Within 60 days, Fulkerson's overall health is... well, you can guess. A doc likes this serves two purposes. One is to preach to the converted, the other is to wake viewers up so they'll at least examine alternatives to the standardized -- and, it appears, destructive -- way in which Americans view what they eat. Let this review simply end by saying: Hey, isn't summer a good time for a salad?

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