The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Set in a drought haunted Malawi village, the film follows William Kamkwamba, a bright but restless teen who refuses to accept famine as fate. With limited schooling, he scavenges household scraps, books, and old furniture for ideas, chasing a project that seems impossible. When he discovers wind energy could draw water and power a basic device, he designs and builds a windmill using salvaged parts. His invention becomes a beacon for his family and neighbors, attracting hope and skepticism in equal measure. The story traces the tension between tradition and curiosity, showing a community split by hunger yet willing to trust a boy who believes in a better future.

Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film adapts William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer's memoir and arrived on Netflix in 2019, marking Ejiofor's debut as a feature director. Maxwell Simba stars as William, with Chiwetel Ejiofor playing his father Trywell and Aïssa Maïga as Agnes. The production foregrounds rural Malawi and a determined teenager whose invention changes everything, with a score that blends traditional Malawian sounds with subtle orchestration.

The movie did not get a traditional theatrical run, as it premiered on Netflix in 2019, so there are no widely reported box office totals and the reach came through streaming.

Its true story and message about ingenuity and resilience resonated with audiences hungry for hope amid hardship. The film spotlights wind energy as a practical local solution, sparking discussions about STEM access, education, and community self-reliance across generations and regions. It offers a window into everyday life in Malawi.

Critics praised Ejiofor's restrained direction and Maxwell Simba's performance as William, while the film quietly explores resilience, learning, and how curiosity can empower a village. It threads personal struggle with communal responsibility, letting the audience feel the stakes without melodrama, leaving viewers with a sense of possibility.