Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut is one that stems close to his heart. Many recognize the English-Nigerian actor from his harrowing portrayal as a runaway slave in 12 Years A Slave and most recently Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Based on true events where a young boy named William Kamkwamba saves his village from a drought by harnessing the power of wind, Ejiofor wanted to share not only an inspiring story but also propel contemporary African storytelling into a broader scope.
William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba) is just a schoolboy in Wimbe, Malawi in the 2000’s, where the basics that we take for granted are difficult to come by. Malawi is a landlocked Eastern African country, like many other areas in that region suffer greatly from political and social turmoil. In William’s case the drought of 2001 in his village brings a series of obstacles that would change him forever.
Ejiofor plays William’s father, Trywell, who is a farmer and a well-respected man in his village. His strong and traditional values have kept his family fed and secure for a longtime. Unlike his father, William is more curious about science and books, specifically magnetism and electricity. In hopes of saving the village, William believes that he can build a windmill that would produce electricity and provide water for the dying crops. Trywell who is too reluctant and stubborn to understand new technologies lashes out at his son for wasting their precious time.
Clearly the tension between father and son is driven out of good-will. Trywell, the proud and loving father just wants the best for William and his sister, yet he also wants traditional roots to be upheld. As Malawi surges in political disorder, the village receives less reassurance from the government and food becomes scarce, people become desperate and violent. On the surface the film may seem as a heavy-hearted inspirational tale of a strongminded boy, and that may seem pretty cliché, but basic themes of tradition and family are truly dominant. Watching the relationship between Trywell and William is emotionally powerful, and you can feel the tension and strain between them.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind gives the audience a backdrop that we as moviegoers may not be particularly familiar with, and that is the contemporary life in Africa. To add to the authenticity, most of the dialogue in the film is spoken in the native Chichewa language and the melodic music provides an essence of the region. Chiwetel Ejiofor succeeded in sharing a story close to his heart and blended it with a very authentic style truly his own. For many, the first step in directing can lead to a pitfall, Ejiofor makes a magnificent leap over any doubt.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was released in select cinemas and on Netflix on March 1.
