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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

  • 2019
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
50K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,762
49
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
A boy in Malawi is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. Sneaking back into the school library, he finds a way, using the bones of the bicycle belonging to his father Trywell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), to build a windmill which could save his village from famine.
Play trailer2:23
4 Videos
43 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

Against all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.Against all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.Against all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.

  • Director
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
  • Writers
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • William Kamkwamba
    • Bryan Mealer
  • Stars
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Maxwell Simba
    • Felix Lemburo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    50K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,762
    49
    • Director
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Writers
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
      • William Kamkwamba
      • Bryan Mealer
    • Stars
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
      • Maxwell Simba
      • Felix Lemburo
    • 223User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Official Trailer
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Clip 4:09
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Clip 4:09
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind: William's Story (Featurette)
    Featurette 1:59
    The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind: William's Story (Featurette)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor Transitions from Actor to Director
    Video 2:57
    Chiwetel Ejiofor Transitions from Actor to Director

    Photos43

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    + 37
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    Top cast43

    Edit
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Trywell Kamkwamba
    Maxwell Simba
    Maxwell Simba
    • William Kamkwamba
    Felix Lemburo
    • John Kamkwamba
    Robert Agengo
    • Jeremiah Kamkwamba
    Fiskan Makawa
    • Priest
    Lily Banda
    Lily Banda
    • Annie Kamkwamba
    Aïssa Maïga
    Aïssa Maïga
    • Agnes Kamkwamba
    Fredrick Lukhere
    • Mkubwi
    Hestingzi Phiri
    • Shabani Mkubwi
    Rophium Banda
    • Mister Bamusi
    Philbert Falakeza
    • Gilbert Wimbe
    Samson Kambalu
    • Joe Godsten
    Raymond Ofula
    • Mister Ofesi
    Noma Dumezweni
    Noma Dumezweni
    • Edith Sikelo
    Lemogang Tsipa
    • Mike Kachigunda
    Joseph Marcell
    Joseph Marcell
    • Chief Wembe
    Martin Githinji
    • Reginald Nwachi
    Melvin Alusa
    • Justin Mitwa
    • Director
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Writers
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
      • William Kamkwamba
      • Bryan Mealer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews223

    7.649.8K
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    Featured reviews

    Dev1999

    A beautiful film that has the power to match its own story.

    This film is absolutely great, and I recommend everyone to just watch it right now on Netflix. This needs to be seen and supported. It is full of interesting and powerful themes that are rarely portrayed like this in cinema, and teaches a lot of important lessons without ever being preachy about it. It's one of these based on a true story movies that are actually really good and achieve what they are going for, and also match the importance and beauty of the real tale.

    All of the acting, the cinematography, the score, and the directing are working so well together, which makes for an excellent watching experience, and one that will actually stick with you for a bit.

    Please give The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind a chance.
    10SarahJaneHeath

    Loved every moment of this film

    What a great movie - powerful acting, cinematography and story line. Heartwarming, powerful and emotional - it brought tears of sadness and joy! Thoroughly recommend.

    This is the kind of film awards were made for. I hope it wins many.
    8kitcatch

    Such a beautiful and powerful film

    Chiwetel Ejiofor knew exactly what he was going for with this film. You knew there was a happy ending to this and it still beats you into an emotional pulp by the end. Terrific performances across the board, with an absolute gem from young Maxwell Simba. There are so many scenes in this that are powerful, heartbreaking, beautiful, and in one case, terrifying, that by the end you will be so invested and a little saddened that you can't help but be overjoyed when the predictable happiness finally arrives.
    9MaryKathleenSpangenberg

    A great movie based on the book wrote by The real life man

    Ignore the review that says the story is not true. The book is an autobiography and the movie has Michael speaking at the end. There is pretty much massive amounts of documentation verifying his education. He went to school, several in fact, including Dartmouth and worked for varied non profits.

    I am sure the movie might be a tad Hollywoodized as the "based on" ones all usually are but does not detract from this great Netflix film or facts.
    8IdiotBox_Recommendations

    An Emotional True Story - A Must Watch

    This is a true story about a boy named William Kamkwamba - an ingenious boy who harnessed wind energy by building a turbine to salvage his village from extinction, a village affected by floods, famine and hunger, a village with no electricity or running water supply. This is truly a heartbreaking story about the inordinate sufferings faced by an African country- Malawi, but the relevance is found in many such countries affected by global climate change, yet it's a story of inspiration and courage- courage to break the shackles that bind you to extreme grief and poverty against all odds. Many a times we take our privileges for granted without even taking into consideration that there are families who are unable to meet even basic needs. With only 1 meal/day, William's family was on the verge of death by starvation. His strong determination regenerates hopes not only for his family, but also for his village.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chiwetel Ejiofor had to learn the Malawi language spoken in the film, Chichewa.
    • Goofs
      Times passes but the baby of the family does not grow up.
    • Quotes

      Trywell Kamkwamba: Democracy. Democracy is just like imported cassava. It rots quickly.

    • Soundtracks
      Bilo
      Written by Justin Vali

      Performed by The Justin Vali Quartett

      Produced by Paddy Bush

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Malawi
      • United States
      • Kenya
    • Official sites
      • Official Netflix
      • Official Netflix
    • Languages
      • English
      • Nyanja
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Хлопчик, який приборкав вітер
    • Filming locations
      • Malawi
    • Production companies
      • BBC Film
      • BFI Film Fund
      • Blue Sky Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 53m(113 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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