The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | Rotten Tomatoes

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Released Mar 1, 2019

1 hr. 53 min.

Drama

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List

86%

66 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A 13-year-old boy is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. He sneaks into the library and learns how to build a windmill to save his village from a famine.

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Netflix

Watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind with a subscription on Netflix.

Critics Consensus

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind earns its predictably uplifting arc through strong performances and impressive work from debuting director Chiwetel Ejiofor.

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Audience Member

Wonderful story. A must see movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/15/23

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Samuel F

It's a emotional drama and hava a little suspense. It's starring Maxuel Simba, a brilliant actor who play the boy harnessed the wind. It takes place is Malaui early 2001. the movie is abot the life of a family in Africa and a inteigent boy who harnessed the wind.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

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Ashlea-Jae M

i think the movie could be more interesting but other wise, its perfectly fine.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

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Yoshke BenStada P

Other than the politicization of Christianity, Islam, and African paganism against one another in this African community, the film was one of the most wholesome and inspiring movies I have seen in a very long time. I highly recommend it for its family values. American families could learn a lot from this African family about honoring parents and sticking together through tough times, as well as conflict between generations and when an older generation needs to step aside and give a new generation a shot. Great film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

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Gerardo Miguel E

A story full of perseverance and inspiring. In Wimbe's village there was a drought where the need made William not stop wanting to know more about how to help his family and town through science. The difficulties that he faced and he continued with the vision of him, was to be admired.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/23

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Savannah G

This movie was gorgeous based on a true story one that I would absolutely adore and respect. a close by story for these close by actors. really a strong story telling of this time for this family as well as the community they lived in.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/23

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Chiwetel Ejiofor

Director

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Trywell Kamkwamba

Aïssa Maïga

Agnes Kamkwamba

Joseph Marcell

Chief Wembe

Noma Dumezweni

Edith Sikelo

Lemogang Tsipa

Mike Kachigunda

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Schemers

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Trailer 1

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Atavia Reed

Chicago Reader

Ejiofor captures perfectly the heart of a town struggling to prosper, a family fighting to survive, and a young boy who just wants to keep the world as he knows it alive and well.

Feb 21, 2020

Full Review

Adam Woodward

Little White Lies

This is a promising debut from Ejiofor - and further proof of Netflix's willingness to invest in stories which other studios might deem less commercially viable.

Mar 13, 2019

Full Review

Tim Grierson

Screen International

Chronicling how an impoverished African family perseveres during hardship, The Boy speaks eloquently about the importance of education and the need for sons to surpass their fathers.

Mar 13, 2019

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

A beautiful and at times heartbreaking slice of real life.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Roger Moore

Movie Nation

A classic 90 minute movie hidden 113 minute one, and the story arc a classic wait-too-late-to-get-to-the-point melodrama.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 10, 2022

Full Review

Nicolás Delgadillo

Discussing Film

An emotional display of the power of human ingenuity and what people can accomplish in trying times, and it's Ejiofor's script that sets the film apart from other similar inspirational biopics.

Jun 25, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

A 13-year-old boy is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. He sneaks into the library and learns how to build a windmill to save his village from a famine.

Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Executive Producer: Peter Hampden, Phil Hunt, Jonathan King, Norman Merry, Joe Oppenheimer, Compton Ross, Jim Shamoon, Jeff Skoll, Natascha Wharton, Mario Zvan
Screenwriter: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Potboiler Productions, BBC Films, Participant Media, BFI Film Fund
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2019

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