When a young Malawian boy builds a windmill from scrap to save his famine-stricken village, the result is not just a survival story, it is a testament to human resilience. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is a moving retelling of William Kamkwamba’s true-life story, based on his memoir of the same name.
The film introduces us to William (Maxwell Simba), a bright and curious 13-year-old who finds himself forced out of school when his family can no longer afford the fees. But William’s hunger for knowledge drives him to sneak into the library, where he discovers a book that changes everything: Using Energy. With his country facing the grip of drought and his community on the brink of starvation, William begins piecing together an invention that could transform their fate – a windmill.
Ejiofor, who also stars as William’s father, delivers a powerful performance as a man torn between skepticism and the desperate hope of a better tomorrow. The strained father-son dynamic becomes one of the film’s most emotional anchors, reflecting the generational clash between tradition and innovation.
Cinematically, the film is raw and unpolished in the best way. Ejiofor paints Malawi not as an exotic backdrop, but as a living, breathing community where laughter, pain, and survival coexist. The cinematography captures both the parched despair of failed harvests and the soaring triumph of William’s windmill rising against the sky.
Critics and audiences alike have praised the film’s authenticity. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an 86% rating, with reviewers calling it “uplifting” and “deeply human.” For viewers, it is both heartbreaking and inspiring, reminding us that education and ingenuity remain some of the most powerful tools in fighting poverty.
Though it’s pacing occasionally drags, the story’s heart never falters. Maxwell Simba shines as William, carrying the narrative with quiet strength, while Ejiofor’s direction ensures the film never loses sight of the stakes, the lives of ordinary people battling extraordinary odds.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is not just a movie; it is a lesson in perseverance and the power of ideas. It is a story that deserves to be told, and more importantly, remembered. For those seeking inspiration wrapped in honest storytelling, this film is a must-watch.
