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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a 2019 drama film written, directed by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a 2019 drama film written, directed by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor in his feature directorial debut. It is based on William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer’s memoir about a Malawian boy who builds a wind turbine to help his family during famine. The film is relevant to Canadian audiences through Netflix distribution and its classroom-friendly adaptation of a widely studied memoir about science, resilience, and development.

Synopsis

The film dramatizes William Kamkwamba’s experience in rural Malawi, where drought and famine threaten his family’s survival. Using scrap materials and self-taught engineering, he builds a wind turbine to generate electricity and support his community.

Production and release

Chiwetel Ejiofor wrote, directed, and starred in the film, marking his first feature as a director. It premiered at Sundance in January 2019 and began streaming on Netflix on 1 March 2019.

Source material

The film adapts the memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. The memoir recounts Kamkwamba’s real-life efforts to build a windmill and improve life in his village.

Reception and recognition

The film received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Ejiofor’s direction and performances. The British Academy selected it as the UK’s entry for the international feature Oscar race, but it did not receive a nomination.

Key facts

  • The film premiered in the Premieres section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
  • Netflix acquired global distribution rights in November 2018, with exclusions noted for Japan, China, and UK free TV rights.
  • The story follows William Kamkwamba, a Malawian teenager who creates a wind-powered solution during a famine.
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor made his feature directorial debut with the film.
  • The film was selected as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
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Canadian context

The film is relevant to Canadian audiences through Netflix distribution and its classroom-friendly adaptation of a widely studied memoir about science, resilience, and development.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind a true story?
Yes. It is based on William Kamkwamba’s memoir about building a wind turbine in Malawi during a famine.
Who directed The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind?
Chiwetel Ejiofor directed the film.
When was the film released?
It began streaming on Netflix on 1 March 2019.
What is the film about?
It tells the story of a Malawian teenager who uses ingenuity and scrap materials to build a wind-powered device that helps his family and village.
Was the film nominated for an Oscar?
No. It was chosen as the British entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Harnessed_the_Wind
    Supports: Film year, director, writer, source memoir, Sundance premiere, Netflix release, awards submission, and general reception.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-the-Wind
    Supports: Memoir source material and William Kamkwamba context.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7533152/
    Supports: Runtime and release date.
  4. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kamkwamba
    Supports: William Kamkwamba’s identity and the real-life inspiration for the story.