The Film “The Boy who told the Wind captured” the true story of a Malawian teenager who defied the ingenuity of the famine. The directorial debut of Chiwetel Ejiofor was seen at the Berlinale.
In 2010, the actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has read a Bestseller that had just been published: “The Boy who captured the Wind”, the true story of William Kamkwamba who invented as a Teenager, a wind-powered Turbine, which saved his village in Malawi, a famine. The story moved Ejiofor is so strong that he decided to turn it into a Film.
“I was inspired deeply by the story and their levels,” said the actor in a DW Interview. At the Berlinale the Film will be shown out of competition. 1. March he is to see on Netflix.
Ejiofor, who was nominated for his lead role in “12 Years a Slave” (2013) for an Oscar, also appreciated how the story was put into a larger context. Kamkwamba and Co-author Bryan Mealer deal in your book with the far-reaching effects of the famine. In addition to the story of the young, the book addresses the food shortages, as well as their geopolitical and economic importance. “This has touched me sustainably,” says Ejiofor.
Ejiofor (in the green shirt) sees many Parallels between the story of 2002 and the issues of the world discussed today
Thousands died of Hunger and its consequences
Malawi is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa. Around 18 million people live there. In 2001, the maize was harvest by around a third. Reason for Floods and forest clearing. In 2002, Malawi experienced one of the worst famines of recent history.
The government was initially sceptical, and argued that there were according to official statistics, no shortage of food. It was not until the deaths reached in February 2002, a maximum, called the government officially declared a state of emergency. The famine fell, that of non-governmental organization ActionAid suggests that up to 3000 people.
Crooked shops in Malawi?
The causes of the food shortage were complex. Reports showed the role of the International monetary Fund (IMF) and the world Bank, two of the world’s largest credit institutions, which were involved in the privatisation of the food production and distribution in Malawi.
“The Boy who criticised the Wind caught” the despotic procedure of Malawi’s first freely elected President, Bakili Muluzi, who sold the corn stocks on the verge of a dry period in the neighbouring countries – on the advice of the IMF.
Modern history of the community
Ejiofor has travelled to the preparation of his film several times to Malawi. At the beginning of the Consideration was in the room, whether one should turn to make the project better in South Africa or Kenya, which would be logistically easier to implement. According to Ejiofor but it was quickly apparent that it would make no sense. “Malawi has a very unique quality,” he said. “The country is so distinctive and the culture is so rich, that I wanted to capture.”
Ejiofor has shot the Film in the village, in the the young inventor William Kamkwamba lived at that time. This contributes to the authenticity of the work. “The only place where I could not turn, was Williams house, because he has renewed it over the years, so much so that it no longer looked like back then,” says Ejiofor.
Rookie shines in his first film role
The Netflix production “The Boy, the Wind caught” Ejiofors debut as a Director. Although he wanted to focus particularly on it, but it was quickly clear that he had to play Williams ‘ father, Trywell. This allowed Ejiofor, a British actor with Nigerian roots, to interact closely with his young Kenyan colleagues Maxwell Simba. Simba is the Protagonist of the film and shines in a role in his first film. “He had, in fact, Ejiofor previously no experience in the Film, however, he has mastered everything, than he would have done it for years,” said.
Aissa Maiga, Senegalese-French actress, shines in the role of the strong mother of a family. She was very fond of this project.
“As an actress with African roots, I can see how very African stories in Western countries are missing,” she said. “And these type of positive stories can change the perception of other people, especially from Africa.”
The Film was compelling and suitable for the mass produced, yet dares the audience to challenge, which is not used to subtitles. The characters speak a mixture of the local language of Chichewa and English.
Impressive Invention
The real William Kamkwamba was expelled from school because his family could not pay the school money. Nevertheless, the Boy snuck into the school library, the book “Using Energy” (dt. Energy use) to read. This inspired him to experiment with wind turbines. The required materials he got at the junkyard.
“Father and son”Duo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Maxwell Simba in “The Boy who captured the Wind”
In Kamkwambas footsteps, represented a challenge for the production team. “As we have reconstructed Kamkwambas wind mill, it has used 20 adult men and a group of very experienced property managers,” said producer Andrea Calderwood. “There were so many Meetings to find out how we can build it. Something he at the age of 13 years, has come up with – with the help of a few books.”
Kamkwamba with “mixed feelings” in Berlin
Kamkwambas ingenuity shows how you can with the limited resources at the local level, change a lot – if you take it in attack. He has accompanied the film team to Berlin. The 31-year-old inventor, engineer and author, admitted that he had “mixed feelings” to see his life story on the screen. Even if the crisis in the end was rewarding, it was nevertheless a “very difficult and challenging” Phase, he said.
It was the determination of the young that has moved Ejiofor for the film project, but the Director also felt the current global relevance of the story. The deregulation of the market. The increasing grain price. People on the margins of society. Ejiofor is of the opinion that “many of the problems, which are of course exposed to additional communities, are actually part of the bigger picture, we are talking about.”