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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)

★ 7.6TV-PG113 minDirector: Chiwetel Ejiofor

2019 biographical drama film by Chiwetel Ejiofor

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a 2019 drama film written, directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor in his feature directorial debut. The film is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. It was screened in the Premieres section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and began streaming in most territories on Netflix on 1 March 2019. It was selected as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. It received widely positive reviews with praise going to Ejiofor's direction and the acting.

The film has been adapted into a musical, of the same name, by the Royal Shakespeare Company and made its debut in Stratford-upon-Avon in February 2026. It is sent to transfer to London's West End for a 12-week season at @SohoPlace from 25 April to 18 July 2026.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind about?
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) — William Kamkwamba was born in the country of Malawi, in Africa. When he was fourteen years old, a terrible drought hit the village where he lived. People had nothing to eat. Being an excellent student and very fond of physics, William decides to save his native village from starv
Is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind scary?
Content rating: TV-PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.