The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

- -

Uh-huh. Move, move, move.

- -

Father!

John! John!

- -

No one is responsible for the death of this man.

God alone has decided to take John Kamkwamba.

When God has decided, then we will know the man by what remains.

By the fruit shall we know the tree.

And we have fruit here.

The fruit of the land farmed by John and his younger brother, Trywell,

since they returned from Dowa nearly 20 years ago,

and worked this land together side by side, these two brothers.

But there are other fruits from John Kamkwamba,

many offspring born to him.

His children, led by his eldest son, Jeremiah,

who must now take over the work of his departed father.

- And if the fruit is good, then it must... -

William.

Give me my radio.

Did you fix Mr. Bamusi's?

No, sir. Not yet.

Go and check the roof.

There are heavy cloud formations moving across the southwest...

- -

- Morning, Papa. - Sleep better?

Put it on his bed.

- Good morning. - Good morning to you.

- Bad dreams again? - Yes, hardly slept.

William! You want Shabani to help you?

No, Ma. I'm fine.

William, where's my radio?

Mr. Bamusi, please, just a few more days.

I'm finding the problem. It's not the condenser.

I've told your father. I'm missing my programs, William.

William, if you can't fix it,

you have to give Mr. Bamusi back his money.

A few days, Mr. Bamusi. I promise.

He's forcing me to come back from work and talk to my wife and children.

William.

Make sure you wash before you go inside.

Yes, Ma.

Papa! Papa!

Hey!

Thank you, Papa! Thank you!

Oh, my God! Where is my son? Who has taken my son?

- Look at the trousers! - It's okay. It's okay.

Who brought this man here?

Doesn't he know that I love my husband?

Leave the boy alone.

Is he a doctor from Lilongwe or an engineer from Chimamba?

- It's not too big? - It's perfect.

Dear Father,

we thank you for all the blessings you have laid on this family.

Please continue to fight for us, so we may endure any hardship.

- In Jesus's name, Amen. - Amen.

When I was a boy, the elders sometimes hadn't recorded everyone's exact age.

But there was a simple test.

If you could touch your left ear over your head with your right hand,

you could go to school.

The first time I tried, I was too small.

I couldn't reach.

Do it.

That was for you to go to primary school, Papa.

- Of course I can do it. - I know.

Go to school.

Gilbert.

Gilbert.

- Hey! -

- Looking sharp, man. - You too, man.

I think this is a bit too loose for you.

- Room to grow, room to grow. -

One phosphorus, one more organic.

- You want an ox cart? - No, I brought the bike.

There's flooding in Mozambique.

Mozambique?

I've heard it on the radio.

Justina's relatives found her a job at the agricultural ministry.

Don't worry.

After university, you'll have no problem finding a job.

You'll do things even I didn't think women could do.

N.U.P. government! N.U.P. government!

Another six months of this bullshit.

You know the president is even coming to Kasungu.

Democracy.

Democracy is just like imported cassava.

It rots quickly.

Of course, Kachokolo is not the wealthiest school in the district,

but it's down to each one of you to decide your own level of commitment.

- Your own level of what? - Commitment!

We have had students excel in their junior certificate

and some of them have even gone on to university.

Did these people have two heads?

- No, Mr. Headmaster. -

- What did they not have? - Two heads!

They worked hard. Simple as that. What did they do?

Worked hard.

When we have received the full payment for the term,

you will receive your library card from Mrs. Sikelo.

- - What will I give you?

Library cards.

Your library cards will allow you to take some books home overnight.

So, with dedication, there's no reason...

Everybody, go to your form rooms.

Your form teachers will take you through the rest of the day's activities.

Everybody, find your seat. Find your seat.

Your first day of school and the rains have come.

A good sign, I wonder.

My name is Mr. Kachigunda.

I will be your form tutor and science teacher for the year.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Mr. Kachigunda.

Take your seats.

Okay, let's get right on with it. Basic algebra: x and y.

Mr. Godsten.

Mama said that Justina left for Lilongwe.

Yes, she's gone.

Do you need help here?

Not any we can afford.

Will you let me know if you hear of any work in the market?

Of course.

Mr. Kachigunda.

It's from my sister, Annie, for her university placement.

You're William Kamkwamba?

Yes, sir.

Tell your father to pay the fees.

He's paid, sir.

Only the down payment. There's no grace period here.

Tell your father to pay the rest or you won't be allowed to come to school.

Yes, sir. He'll pay, sir.

Good.

William, look who's been waiting.

Khamba!

William, it's too dark.

We have a science test.

- Can I use kerosene? - There's not enough for studying.

Go and help your father plant.

That's okay.

You need to see me after class.

William, you can do better. Gilbert, I'm not so sure.

That's good.

- At least you passed. - Sixty-two is not enough.

We need to go to the junkyard. We need to find a way to study at night.

There's been a delivery.

It's just more shit from the tobacco estate.

Anything new?

It's a pump.

Hey!

When the tobacco estates moved south,

it made it hard for us to compete to grow tobacco.

And then they took the trees to burn to dry their tobacco leaves.

We once had a beautiful country that my son will never see.

We have been instructed by the estate

to offer 2,000 kwacha per tonne of forestry.

Papa, what's going on? They're taking the trees?

Who said you could come to the meeting?

Gilbert is allowed.

And so? Go!

Go!

Of course, if you don't want to take this opportunity,

we will be forced to take our business elsewhere.

Let the chief speak. Let the chief speak.

Of course, the estates know that the rains came late this year,

and they have come heavy.

They know that there has been flooding in Mozambique.

They know that without finances, we can't build proper defenses,

and so we rely on the trees.

They watch for every pressure on us small people,

so they can take from us.

The only power we have is to say no.