On the Way to School

They live in all four corners of the planet and share a thirst for knowledge. Almost instinctively they know that their well-being, indeed their survival, depends on knowledge and education. From the dangerous savannahs of Kenya to the winding trails of the Atlas mountains in Morocco; from the suffocating heat of Southern India to the vast, dizzying plateaux of Patagonia, these children are all united by the same quest, the same dream. Jackson, Zahira, Samuel and Carlito are the heroes of On the Way to School, a film that interweaves portraits of four pupils forced to confront and overcome countless, often dangerous obstacles – enormous distances over treacherous territory, avoiding snakes, elephants, even bandits – on their journey to the classroom. By setting foot on their extraordinary path, by embarking on this adventure littered with traps and challenges, they will begin to leave childhood behind. Pascal Plisson’s film recounts the journey of initiation that will change their lives forever.