A 14-year-old boy named William, who dropped out of school due to poverty , saved his village from a food crisis due to drought by teaching himself the principle of windmill power generation in the library
From 2001 to 2002, countries in the southern African region experienced a severe food crisis, with Malawi being the most severe situation. Malawi is located inland and is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world, with 65% of the population living on a daily basis. The cost of living is less than US$1. Encouraged by the two consecutive years of bumper food harvests in 1999 and 2000, the Malawi government had predicted that 2001 would also be a bumper year. Nearly half of a population of 10 million are starving
In March 2019, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on William's autobiographical film, aired on Netflix
It was one day in 2001. On the scorching African plains, adults and children in the village were harvesting corn.
Playful children and busy adults, unaware that a father has fallen...
The film begins with an African funeral that heralds disaster
The dead man was William's father's brother
The film is played by William's father, Chiwetel, who wrote, directed and acted. He was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor for "12 Years a Slave".
"sowing"
William, who is good at dismantling electrical appliances, earns a meager income to subsidize his family by helping his neighbors repair radios
The radio that has been used for many years and looks very worn out, and the weather forecast is not very clear with noise, indicating that heavy rain is coming.
William, who is about to start school, put on a new school uniform and hugged his father excitedly
However, this joy did not last long when William faced the prospect of being expelled for failing to pay his tuition fees.
And there is no electricity at home, so the kerosene lamps need to be used sparingly, so at night, William can't read books and study
On the other hand, for their own benefit, tobacco companies cut down trees for fuel, causing villages to lose trees and trees for flood protection. When heavy rains come, floods flood and crops are submerged.
The 9/11 incident in the same year affected the world economy, the Malawi government fell into a debt crisis, and the famine was unavoidable.
"growing up"
By chance, William discovered that the bicycle of his school teacher could drive the lights to generate electricity by stepping on the pedals - the original source of his inspiration for the invention of wind turbines
So William went to ask the school teacher, what is the principle, the teacher told William to go to the library to look up - William went to look at the books that only senior students learn
"harvest"
The flood has passed, followed by the arrival of the drought. When the harvest season comes, there is only so much food in the whole family. It is obviously not enough to support the whole family through a year.
William's father went to protest against the government, hoping to get government relief by pressing
But not long after his father left the house, William's home was looted by the victims of the famine.
Fortunately, William "snatched" the relief food limited by the government with the strength of nine bulls and two tigers.
"famine"
The whole family eats only one meal a day, and even does superstitious things that the ancients would do - pray for rain
Seeing that there is not enough food to eat, in order to save rations-William's sister left a letter and eloped with someone
"wind"
Facing the harsh reality of famine, William thought of the wind power he read in the book, "If there is electricity, we can solve the water problem"
First, it was proven feasible by making a small generator
Then next, just need to make a giant windmill - after many obstacles, with the understanding and support of my father, it finally succeeded
The moment when the water is pumped is so heartening, the hunger can be solved, the village has electricity and crops can be harvested all year round
William later received a scholarship to complete his studies in Malawi, then went to South Africa to attend the African Leadership Institute, and then completed a degree in Environmental Science at Dartmouth College in the United States
The first windmill built by William and his subsequent windmills made him remembered by the locals
William said: "I tried hard and finally succeeded"
This film depicts the cruelty of reality, and many countries in Africa are still going through the difficult times that appear in this film, and such difficult realities require the emergence of real heroes like William. William's story further illustrates mutual support and thinking of interests How maximization drives the development of a nation
Although some parts of the movie do not make sense, but
After a long period of death, I still need inspirational films to motivate myself
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