The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) Movie Review

Chiwetel Ejiofor directed the movie, wrote the script, and starred in it. This was his first feature-length film.
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The movie is based on the true story of a Malawian youth who builds a windmill to save his town from famine. It is based on the memoir by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.
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The movie first showed in the Globe at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It started streaming on Netflix on March 1, 2019.
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The Story and the Heart of the Story

William Kamkwamba is a smart young student from a Malawian community that is suffering from a drought. He has to drop out of school since his family can't afford it. He doesn't give up and sneaks into the school library, where a science book about energy sparks his interest. Using his resourcefulness, he constructs a small windmill from found parts and dreams of a larger one. He eventually convinces his father, who is not sure about the idea, to let him take apart the family bike to make a full-scale windmill. What happened? He successfully pumped water, saving the community.
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Strong points and good things

Compelling storytelling: Ejiofor expertly mixes charm, sadness, and realism, leading to a genuinely rewarding emotional climax.
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Dick Pope, the cinematographer, depicts the rugged beauty of rural Malawi in a way that makes viewers feel like they are in William's world.
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Authenticity and language: The movie uses both English and Chichewa, which is a nod to the story's cultural roots. This is a style that is appreciated for being true to life.
The Guardian

Great performances:

Maxwell Simba gives a breakout performance as William, showing both young creativity and deep commitment.
The Guardian
Roger Ebert

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays William's father and adds depth and richness to the part.
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Roger Ebert

Reception and Critical Response

Most critics liked it. Rotten Tomatoes praised the outstanding performances and Ejiofor's direction, and Metacritic gave it a solid score of 68/100, which means that critics generally liked it.
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The Guardian says that even though the movie is quite standard, it "builds to a remarkably rousing climax."
The Guardian

RogerEbert.com points out that the movie doesn't use the usual clichés seen in prodigy stories. Instead, it pays tribute to the genuine struggles and triumphs of its protagonists.
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Common Sense Media recommends it highly for families due to its superb production qualities and subtle performances.
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Themes and Effects

William utilizes his imagination to confront famine and government negligence.
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Education as empowerment: His secret learning shows how information may change lives.
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Family dynamics and reconciliation: The changing relationship between William and his father is the main focus of the emotional journey.
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Cultural Heritage

People still praise the movie as a sign of hope and good things to come. Entertainment Weekly calls it one of Netflix's most inspiring true-story movies because of its "pure optimism" and "innovative spirit."
EW.com

EW also placed it on their list of the "30 best Netflix movies based on true stories." The movie is known for its happy story and feel-good tone, even though it deals with heavy topics.
EW.com

Summary Table Category Highlights Direction Chiwetel Ejiofor's sensitive and real first movie is based on the true story of William Kamkwamba's windmill project.
Acting Maxwell Simba does a great job leading, and Ejiofor does a great job turning.
Style of the picture The film features stunning, realistic shots of rural Malawi's landscape, which are inspiring, easy to understand, family-friendly, and profound. People liked it because it was heartfelt and respectful of other cultures.

In conclusion, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is more than just a feel-good movie. It shows how strong people are, how powerful knowledge can be, and how strong a community can be. People who are innovators, teachers, families, or just like actual stories of survival and creativity will love this movie.