Many of us have heard stories about how our parents and ancestors had to walk or ride long distances to get to school. Often they emphasized the brutal weather in the winter or painful heat in the summer.
This unusual documentary directed by Pascal Plisson starts with a title card that states, "Too often we forget how lucky we are to go to school." The young people portrayed in this drama personify the virtue of perseverance. Against all odds they trek long distances and face dangerous obstacles just to get to their classrooms.
In Kenya, Jackson and his sister Salome alternately walk and run 9 miles, which takes two hours in the burning sun. Along the way, they must be on the lookout for moody elephants and other wildlife. They arrive at their destination just in time for Jackson to raise the school flag.
In Morocco, Zahira treks 13.5 miles through the Atlas Mountains in four hours to get to her boarding school for a week. She meets up with two other girls and together they cover narrow and dangerous paths. Luckily, they catch a ride in a passing vehicle for the last stretch.
In India, Samuel sits in his rickety wheelchair and is pushed by his brothers on a journey of two miles, which takes an hour and fifteen minutes. Despite his disability, he is determined to get to school so that he can become a doctor.
In Argentina, Carlito and his Micaela sister ride a horse, covering 11 miles in 1.25 hours. In a touching moment, she convinces him to let her take the reins for a while.
The French director has said of his intention for the film: "The film moved me deeply. I will never forget the beautiful adventure of making this film. My dream is to show a larger public that there are many realities and that access to knowledge is the fundamental right of every child around the world."