The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Movie Details:
| Based on | The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba Bryan Mealer |
| Country | United Kingdom Malawi |
| Language | English Chichewa |
| Genres | Biography, Drama, History |
| Release date | 25 January 2019 (Sundance) |
| Running time | 1hr 53min |
| Age rating | TV-PG |
| Starring | Maxwell Simba Chiwetel Ejiofor Lily Banda |
| Directed by | Chiwetel Ejiofor |
| Screenplay by | Chiwetel Ejiofor |
| Produced by | Andrea Calderwood Gail Egan |
| Cinematography by | Dick Pope |
| Edited by | Valerio Bonelli |
| Music by | Antônio Pinto |
| Casting by | Alexa L. Fogel |
| Production Design by | Tulé Peak |
| Art Direction by | João Bueno |
| Costume Design by | Bia Salgado |
| Production Company | Netflix Participant Media BBC Films British Film Institute Potboiler Productions |
| Distributor | Netflix |
Cast & Characters:
- Maxwell Simba as William Kamkwamba
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Trywell Kamkwamba
- Aïssa Maïga as Agnes Kamkwamba
- Lily Banda as Annie Kamkwamba
- Robert Agengo as Jeremiah Kamkwamba
- Joseph Marcell as Chief Wimbeh
- Noma Dumezweni as Edith Sikelo
- Lemogang Tsipa as Mike Kachigunda
- Philbert Falakeza as Gilbert Wimbe
- Kelvin Maxwell Ngoma as Charity
- Melvin Alusa as Justin Mitwar
Storyline:
The film follows the life of William Kamkwamba (played by Maxwell Simba), a young boy living in a rural village in Malawi. Faced with severe drought and famine, William, inspired by a library book, learns about wind energy and decides to build a wind turbine to generate electricity for his family’s home and provide water for their crops. His journey is filled with challenges, including skepticism from his community and personal struggles within his family.
About Movie:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a drama film that marks the feature directorial debut of Chiwetel Ejiofor, who also stars in the film. The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, which recounts Kamkwamba’s inspiring story of building a wind turbine to save his village in Malawi from famine.
Production Details
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was screened in the Premieres section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and began streaming on Netflix on March 1, 2019. The film features a strong supporting cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aissa Maiga, and Lily Banda.
Reception
The film received widely positive reviews, with particular praise for Ejiofor’s direction and the performances of the cast. Critics highlighted its uplifting message and emotional depth, although some noted that it could have delved deeper into certain themes.
Awards
The film was selected as the British entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, although it did not receive a nomination.
Overall, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind stands out as an inspiring tale of innovation, perseverance, and the impact of education, showcasing how one individual’s determination can lead to significant change in their community.