The Boy who harnessed the wind
Olivia D’Souza
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Chiwetel Ejiofor
January 25, 2019
Film
Kasungu, Malawi
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind portrays poor schools with many children in one classroom. William, was denied entry to his local school because his father was unable to pay the fees required for tuition. This is a problem faced in many African and Asian countries as well. School is a privilege for those who can afford it, and those who cannot are forced to return to their families and help in the farm or during the harvest. The film also portrays a time of hunger due to drought as the people of Kasungu, Malawi relied heavily on agriculture. This connects to other African and Asian cultures because of the common trade of harvest and dependency on natural resources.
The central message portrayed in this film is that in difficult times, one must create their own way. It will be hard but it will also yield amazing results. This message was made clear in the film through the storyline. The movie began showcasing William’s struggles in attending school due to his family’s financial situation. Later, his community would face hunger due to the drought and the government would fail to provide support to the community. Finally, at the end of the film William was able to build a windmill in order to provide electricity for the water pump in order to bring water to smaller gardens to grow food during the drought. The central message of creating one’s own way pertains to other cultures, in that innovation is greatly valued in Western cultures.
The film accurately portrays many aspects of the culture of Kasungu. The chief of the village was also killed for calling out the government because of their negligence. Violence due to a controlling and corrupt government is prevalent in many African and Middle Eastern cultures. Concerning family structure, the women and daughters were generally considered to be married off in the movie, however some were allowed to have an education. The schools were shown as small buildings with smaller rooms and each classroom was divided based on girls and boys. Common food demonstrated in the Kasungu culture included rice and maize.
The mood evoked by this film was one of hope. Despite the dire conditions faced by the Kamkwamba family, they placed their best efforts to survive together. The director of the movie used various cinematic techniques and various shots of the film in order to develop the hopeful mood. As soon as the windmill began to work, the village could be seen celebrating together joyfully.
The film is based on a true story that takes place during the early 2000s. During this time, a famine occurred in which over 100 people died in the town of Kasungu, as it was the worst affected area in the country of Malawi. Later in 2005, another famine affected 4.2 million Malawians. The story of William portrayed in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind demonstrates how he had to create a new innovation out of scraps to help his family and town of Wimbe (part of Kasungu) to survive.
Watching this film changed my worldview because it showed me the harsh realities that famine, drought, gender roles, and education can play in the lives of people around the world. It also showed me that education is something that we are fortunate enough to receive, while many people in poorer nations around the world may not receive the same opportunities that we do. I learned that with determination and perseverance one can create a small change in their community.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Chiwetel Ejiofor
January 25, 2019
Film
Kasungu, Malawi
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind portrays poor schools with many children in one classroom. William, was denied entry to his local school because his father was unable to pay the fees required for tuition. This is a problem faced in many African and Asian countries as well. School is a privilege for those who can afford it, and those who cannot are forced to return to their families and help in the farm or during the harvest. The film also portrays a time of hunger due to drought as the people of Kasungu, Malawi relied heavily on agriculture. This connects to other African and Asian cultures because of the common trade of harvest and dependency on natural resources.
The central message portrayed in this film is that in difficult times, one must create their own way. It will be hard but it will also yield amazing results. This message was made clear in the film through the storyline. The movie began showcasing William’s struggles in attending school due to his family’s financial situation. Later, his community would face hunger due to the drought and the government would fail to provide support to the community. Finally, at the end of the film William was able to build a windmill in order to provide electricity for the water pump in order to bring water to smaller gardens to grow food during the drought. The central message of creating one’s own way pertains to other cultures, in that innovation is greatly valued in Western cultures.
The film accurately portrays many aspects of the culture of Kasungu. The chief of the village was also killed for calling out the government because of their negligence. Violence due to a controlling and corrupt government is prevalent in many African and Middle Eastern cultures. Concerning family structure, the women and daughters were generally considered to be married off in the movie, however some were allowed to have an education. The schools were shown as small buildings with smaller rooms and each classroom was divided based on girls and boys. Common food demonstrated in the Kasungu culture included rice and maize.
The mood evoked by this film was one of hope. Despite the dire conditions faced by the Kamkwamba family, they placed their best efforts to survive together. The director of the movie used various cinematic techniques and various shots of the film in order to develop the hopeful mood. As soon as the windmill began to work, the village could be seen celebrating together joyfully.
The film is based on a true story that takes place during the early 2000s. During this time, a famine occurred in which over 100 people died in the town of Kasungu, as it was the worst affected area in the country of Malawi. Later in 2005, another famine affected 4.2 million Malawians. The story of William portrayed in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind demonstrates how he had to create a new innovation out of scraps to help his family and town of Wimbe (part of Kasungu) to survive.
Watching this film changed my worldview because it showed me the harsh realities that famine, drought, gender roles, and education can play in the lives of people around the world. It also showed me that education is something that we are fortunate enough to receive, while many people in poorer nations around the world may not receive the same opportunities that we do. I learned that with determination and perseverance one can create a small change in their community.