Water From Wind, I say, It Only Lacked a Metaphor

Water From Wind, I say, It Only Lacked a Metaphor Mbali Gama

I did not have to watch the trailer to know that “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” would be a remarkable film. I was primarily captivated by the title which also became its kryptonite. The film is based on the book of the same title by William Kamkwambo and Bryan Mealer which later became Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut.

There is a noble right to the film and its narrative is carried through the use of an exposition device of chaptering events. The film begins as Kufesa (meaning sowing), goes to Kukolola (meaning harvest) and progresses to Mphepho (meaning wind). It is the embedding of this technique that makes one appreciate the narrative more as the director lets you in before you see what truly unravels in the chapter.

A widespread starvation descends upon William Kamkwanbo’s (Maxwell Simba) village after there are devastating floods in the film. His parents, determined to fund their children’s education, simply cannot come up with the money for his education during the rising challenges in the village. William is a gifted student, who is intrigued by electronics. William’s gift prevails in the film when the audience is exposed to his longing to understand the science behind electronics. His curiosity unfolds through his ability to fix radios, with almost no resources defying all odds. William gets access to an old American textbook which provides the technological information he needs for his project. When he asks his father, Trywell (Ejiofor) to make an unusual sacrifice for the project, his restless prodding stains their usually-solid relationship.

The famine and crop prices become the subject that the film pins its tale on which does not push the stakes for the protagonist for too long. The interpersonal and intergenerational battle between William and his father fails to transpire into fruition until the last bit of the film. There is a problematic form of expression in the film as well as reception to the audience. Emotions are not well articulated to the pointed factor of the underdeveloped countries, who have no wide access to education which can better their communities. The school in the film is rarely presented as the life-changing, horizon-broadening experience for William’s story to make it feel and seem as an essential tool. It is that aspect that brings change when William says to his father: “You didn’t fail me, never. I went to school.”

What the film succeeded in highlighting beautifully are relationships in all aspects. The storyline entails sacrifice, greed and the hunger for knowledge, which is carried through exceptionally by the performance of the characters. The epitome of the mentioned actions are carried out in Simba’s performance of William.

The film explores how mothers have a sense of understanding and how deeply their children feel. Aissa Maiga’s performance as William and Annie’s (Older daughter) mother evokes feelings of love and sacrifice taken by her for them, she says: “When I cut my own arm to feed you then you will know that you are my child.” She also asks her husband “When will we stop losing.” That in retrospect fuels the Climax of the film.

There is a signature of political unrest between the farmers and the new Democratic Party. The director creates a stirring image of the political currents whereby the entire village runs desperately with empty baskets to collect government issued grains due to the ongoing famine.

There is an ‘old school’ type of cinematography that was executed beautifully with the film. The film has long shots, tracking shots and reaction shots feed slowly into the heart of the narrative. There is also a well captured depiction of the gruesome hunger that comes in the film. The make up and styling is subtly exposed through the hard gaze of the lens for the audience. The cinematographer also captured the beautiful skin tone of the actors and has a stunning shot of a shadow of the spinning windmill against William’s face. The sound in the film highlights earthly tones, the soundscape made use of the wind, estranged voices, the harp and hollow drums which created an effect of longing, suffering and compassion.

William says to his father, “I can bring water, I can make rain.” And later says “It’s not a dream, papa. I’m not dreaming.” If anything, this film expresses hope and a fight for one to see themselves beyond their circumstances. It is a voice of reason for the child who needs their parents to stand with them and for people to remember each other in hard times. It rained in the film, it poured and the village people were pressured so they could take from them. They only had to be reminded that their only power was to say no and William’s mother reminds us through the principle of the school that our ancestors stayed together to survive. The question remains, when do we stay together to survive? William stayed, he fought for his family but more so for his people.