The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind tells the true story of William Kamkwamba, a boy from Malawi who built a wind turbine for his village after reading about the subject in a library book.  William is played by Maxwell Simba in his screen debut. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) wrote, directed, and also starred in the film, playing William’s father, Trywell.  The film is based on the book of the same name, written by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba.  The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and is now streaming on Netflix.  It is rated TV-PG.

In his feature directorial debut, Chiwetel Ejiofor brings to life the true story of a rural village in Malawi, struggling with hunger, drought, and political upheaval.  The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind takes place in the early to mid-2000’s, when the town of Kasungu, Malawi was hit with one of the worst famines in the country.  Political corruption has continuously driven down the price of tobacco, but many citizens cannot speak out about change for fear of retribution.  Ejiofor’s film is one full of desperation, and a powerful sense of empathy for those abandoned in such a hopeless situation.

From its outset, the film demonstrates the dearth of resources suffered by the people in Kasungu.  Shot on location in Malawi, the film captures the scenery in a beautiful way, despite the barrenness of the landscape.  Kasungu has been recreated in a precise and loving way, and there exists a deep scene of community amongst the turmoil and famine.  A brief radio broadcast describing the September 11th terror attacks is met with near indifference by the characters, a moment that underscores the terrors they face on a regular basis.

Aside from Ejiofor, none of the cast members were recognizable to me.  Nonetheless, the acting was of good quality from top to bottom, especially by Maxwell Simba.  A significant portion of dialogue was in the Chichewa language with English subtitles, and the cast as a whole maintained an emotional connection to the audience despite the language barrier.  

While the film ultimately concludes with a familiar resolution, it does so in the most wholesome and well-meaning of ways.  I can forgive the film for its occasional straightforwardness, as it has enough warmth to make up for the lack of ornamentation.  There is nothing particularly innovative about it, but The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind tells an inspiring story about the importance of education,  and of finding hope in the most unlikely of places.

Reel Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½