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IMDbPro

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

  • 20192019
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
40K
YOUR RATING
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
3 Videos
39 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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
40K
YOUR RATING
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor(adaptation)
    • William Kamkwamba(based on the book by)
    • Bryan Mealer(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Maxwell Simba
    • Felix Lemburo
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor(adaptation)
    • William Kamkwamba(based on the book by)
    • Bryan Mealer(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Maxwell Simba
    • Felix Lemburo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 210User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Clip 4:09
    Watch The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor Transitions from Actor to Director
    Video 2:57
    Watch Chiwetel Ejiofor Transitions from Actor to Director

    Photos39

    Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor and Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga, Maxwell Simba, and Lily Banda in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga, Maxwell Simba, and Lily Banda in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor and Maxwell Simba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Aïssa Maïga at an event for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
    Maxwell Simba at an event for The IMDb Studio at Sundance (2015)
    Aïssa Maïga and Maxwell Simba at an event for The IMDb Studio at Sundance (2015)

    Top cast

    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
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor(adaptation)
      • William Kamkwamba(based on the book by)
      • Bryan Mealer(based on the book by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    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

    User reviews210

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    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.
    helpful•45
    8
    • Dev1999
    • Mar 1, 2019

    FAQ1

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 2019 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • Malawi
    • Official sites
      • Official Netflix
      • Official Netflix
      • Arabic
      • Nyanja
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Malawi
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • BFI Film Fund
      • Blue Sky Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 53 minutes
      • Color

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