The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Netflix | Release Date: March 1, 2019

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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amheretojudgeMar 4, 2019

Make A Truce Or Lie.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind Ejiofor's first major motion picture as a director is admirable, and just admirable, nothing beyond that. This biography has every ingredient that it should have, it breathes productiveMake A Truce Or Lie.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

Ejiofor's first major motion picture as a director is admirable, and just admirable, nothing beyond that. This biography has every ingredient that it should have, it breathes productive yet cliched method. It has everything you aspire and everything it ought to have, from a three part act to one dimensional characters that works as mere pawns. It is not groundbreaking in whatsoever form. Chiwetel Ejiofor is neither Bradley Cooper nor Kevin Costner while telling a story, primarily because there is no conviction in his speech. It is almost as if he doesn't believe in this tale. He craves for big dramatic antics but when it finally hits, he hides away inside a closet.

Never in the film, does the filmmaker takes charge of it. Still, considering it as a debut, he has done a great work on stabilizing the film and keeping the tone persistent. The only part where he gets you for a brief period, is in its latter stages where everything crumbles down to nothing. The family and everyone we had been rooting for, gets cornered brutally with hard facts and poignant practicality of the society they live around.

I would like to think it is the work of brilliant cast rather than narration. This marvelous cast exploring and guiding us through their ancient rituals and culture through a new language; for the audience, pouring all the heart there is in it. Ejiofor maybe on the lead, but he doesn't steal others thunder. He gives each character their stand alone moments to pitch in on the narration. And him balancing on the wrong side of the door, and accepting his flawed deeds, he is more powerful when he goes awry.

These are the scenes to look out for, when he completely loses all his strained out and bottled up anger on his son played beautifully by Maxwell Simba, who is equally challenging to him when they strike horns on screen. Simba seems natural and probably that is why comes off as the most profound and promising among all. Aforementioned, the rift between a father and son, foliated by these cast is a delight to watch. But personally, I would lean for Ejiofor, for the rest of the act, he has to express innocence and vulnerability in its adequacy or inadequacy as a father.

And he expresses that beautifully on screen. At the end of the line, if you are feeling for someone, it is for every man himself. The cast that plays the family too, gets to swing the bat, and when the mother hits her daughter as a rightful and explanatory context, there is a cathartic silence on the screen, that would be hard but overwhelming to swallow. The only thing itching in this film, is the flow of the narration, there is nothing unnecessary in here to scoff off, but a better build up to each scene would have electrified the drama to a whole new level, where it would be easy for The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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nutterjrMar 21, 2019

True stories which are lovingly made can produce positive or even inspirational films like this one. It felt a little too melodramatic at times but the beautiful cinematography and assured performances of the entire cast left a positiveTrue stories which are lovingly made can produce positive or even inspirational films like this one. It felt a little too melodramatic at times but the beautiful cinematography and assured performances of the entire cast left a positive feeling overall. The world would be a better place with more kids like William.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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mohamad91hkJul 8, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Inspired true story that talks about a boy in Malawi who used scarp parts to make a turbine for watering the dried topsoil and save his people from starvation. As a famous phrase says "Necessity is the mother of invention".

This is the first movie that directed and wrote by Chiwetel Ejiofor, although it's an easy true story to direct, but it's a good start for him.

Finally, it was a good movie to watch although it was slow.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Captain105Mar 24, 2019

The boy who harnessed the wind on a film making perspective is a great stride for any director yet the story line moves so slowly that the film gets tiring. It involves lots op posing and visual tricks but not a clear and condensed plot. TheThe boy who harnessed the wind on a film making perspective is a great stride for any director yet the story line moves so slowly that the film gets tiring. It involves lots op posing and visual tricks but not a clear and condensed plot. The film brings so many themes to the table such as cultural, environmental, government corruption, innovation, science, love, family and freindship. It is a fresh movie but is missing some crucial story building and fast paced storytelling.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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