SC-S28/W2-Movie Highlights|Voices unheard(The Boy Who Harnessed The World)

Hello everyone!

Today I am here to participate in the challenge of movie highlights organized by @ruthjoe. If you also want to participate in this challenge then:

Join Here: SC-S28/W2-Movie Highlights|Voices unheard

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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

I have chosen to watch and review movie The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Here are the further basic details of the movie:

Movie Name	The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
Director	Chiwetel Ejiofor

Main Cast of the movie:

• Maxwell Simba is working as William Kamkwamba who is the young boy protagonist

• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Trywell Kamkwamba who is working as William’s father

• Aissa Maiga as Agnes Kamkwamba who is working as William’s mother

• Lily Banda as Annie working as William’s sister and other supporting actors.

The film tells true story of William Kamkwamba. He is a 13 year old boy. His family cannot afford school fees because of poverty. It was forcing William to leave school. He did not give up. He went school sneakingly. He read a book on energy and wind turbines. William builds a homemade windmill by using scraps. His invention brings water and hope back to his village. It turned desperation into triumph.

The film balances family drama and social life. It shows the difficulties due to poverty and famine. It shows the power of education. Through the journey of William the movie delivers a heartfelt message. No matter how hopeless things seem innovation and faith can change lives.

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What new perspective or culture did this movie introduce you to?

The movie revolves around the daily life of rural Malawi. This world is rarely shown on the mainstream screens. In this movie I learned how deeply the communities depend on some natural factors such as land, rainfall, and seasonal crops to survive in this world. It was wonderful to see how a simple drought could push the whole village into hunger and desperation.

The movie also introduced me to the culture of community togetherness in Malawi. Despite of poverty people still value family and unity. They respect their elders. They value education and shares responsibilities. I learned about their customs and their struggles for agriculture. I learned how badly the lack of government support impacts their lives.

The movie shows fragmented educational system. Many families cannot afford schooling expenses. The difference between the learning passion of William and the limited resources of the community gave me solid understanding of how many children around the world do not have opportunities for getting education. In those areas education is just like a luxury.

Overall the movie gave me awareness of the following lessons:

• Rural traditions of Africa
• Climate change impact on poor farming communities.
• Political corruption and it's effect on basic human needs.
• The unity of families.

This was really a voices unheard culture which was finally brought to the spotlight.

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Were there any stereotypes challenged or broken in the film?

Yes the film broke many stereotypes very effectively.

One important stereotype it challenged is that the villagers or poor communities lack intelligence. The creativity of William proves that intelligence does not depend on wealth or formal schooling.

Instead of not having books, textbooks, and proper tools and electricity he built a life saving windmill. He used recycled materials and pure concept and imagination.

The movie shows their resilience and resources. They work in fields and fix problems on their own. They fight for the survival with dignity. The villagers were not shown as weak. They were shown as strong people dealing with an unfair system.

Another stereotype broken was about traditional parents rejecting modern ideas. The father of William initially resisted. Later on he realized the importance of the knowledge of his son. Their relationship challenges the belief that parents in rural areas are narrow minded. But we see a father who loves his family deeply. He is willing to trust his son when the world does not give them any other choice.

Finally the movie breaks the idea that only wealthy countries produce inventors. William became a global symbol of innovation. He proved that brilliance has no nationality or social class.

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Which character’s journey did you relate to the most?

I related the most to William Kamkwamba. He is a young boy. He refused to accept the limits of society. His struggle is the reflection of those people who never give up even when society says no.

The passion for learning reminded a very important reality. Sometimes the strongest thirst for the knowledge comes from those who are denied it. William sneaking into school and reading discarded books as well as studying science in the secret showed how powerful curiosity can be.

I also connected with the emotional struggles of William. He was very responsible for his family. He was worrying about their future. He was trying to bring hope when everyone else was losing it. The persistence of William made his journey very relatable.

But the strongest moment of connection was that when he stood firm in his belief. He was firm that windmill would work. Even his father did not believe him at first.

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What’s one message from the film that stuck with you?

The strongest message from the film that stuck with me is **knowledge is a lifeline. It has the power to transform entire communities. **

But despite that the also have several long lasting messages. These are given below:

• No one is small to make a big difference. William was just a 13 year old boy. But his determination saved the whole village.
• Innovation does not require perfect conditions. It requires curiosity and courage. He built a windmill from trash. He did not have any technology.
• Hope is a tool of survival. When the community did not have anything then it was the hope that kept William moving forward.
• Parents and children can save each other. William gave his father hope and his father gave him strength.
• Poverty is not a lack of capability. It is a lack of opportunity.

The message that truly stayed with me is that there are places where the voices are unheard. They only need a single spark of creativity.

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Trailer