Friday, March 22, 2019

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind


“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” marks the directorial debut of Chiwetel Ejiofor, winner of the BAFTA award for Best Actor for “12 Years a Slave.”

“The Boy” is based on the true story of William Kamkwamba, when he was a young student in Malawi.

During the course of the film, the family farm land floods due to monsoon rainstorms. After the rain subsides, there is a massive drought, which brings William and his family to famine.
William goes to a private school, and his parents pay tuition to the school. When his parents can no longer afford to pay the tuition, William spends his time in the school library. 

One day, while in the library, he finds a book about renewable energy using wind turbines. He quickly discerns that, through the use of wind turbines, he can get his family’s water pump working again. Once he gets the pump working, he can irrigate his family’s farm land, and they can produce crops again, and rescue the farm from famine.

The movie is performed in the English and Chichewa languages, with English subtitles.

William Kamkwamba is played in the film by newcomer Maxwell Simba. He gives an amazing performance and will have a lengthy career I have no doubt. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays William’s father, Trywell Kamkwamba.

To learn more about William Kamkwamba, please visit the links below:



Now streaming on Netflix. Three stars.






No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.