Archives for March 2019

Imagine attending a sleepaway camp with the belief that you will enjoy fun leadership exercises, interacting with other campers, and living outdoors. This was the reality for a brief moment in time until a deranged extremist comes into the youth camp and shoots over seventy campers and camp counselors.

22 July is a Norwegian-American biographical crime drama directed by Paul Greengrass based on the 2011 Norway attacks and the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack in Norwegian history. These unspeakable acts were carried out by Anders Behring Brevik, a right wing Norwegian extremist. On July 22, 2008 Anders Behring Brevik set off a van filled with explosives outside of the office of the acting prime minister, killing multiple individuals. Then traveled to a youth camp disguised as a Norwegian police officer where he proceeded to kill over seventy individuals. The film follows the life of Viljar Hanssen after he has been shot multiple times, awoken from his coma, and crippled for life by Anders Behring Brevik.

The van prior to explosion

In the biographical film, 22 July, Viljar Hanssen is portrayed by Norwegian actor Jonas Strand Gravli. Jonas Strand Gravli puts on a magnificent and mesmerizing performance. He embodies the reality faced by Viljar Hanssen during the initial and aftermath of the attack. Being shot is one thing, but to be shot multiple times and left for dead is another. Actor Jonas Strand Gravli perfectly captures what it is like to be blinded and crippled for life, and have to learn basic skills such as walking all over again. Jonas Strand Gravli’s performance allows the audience to see the strength which was required from Viljar Hanssen, as well as the fear that he overcame to testify against the man who took away so much from him and others.

Viljar Hanssen testifying in open court

What is most impressive about this film is how emotionally driven as well as captivating the entire film is from start to finish. Norwegian director Paul Greengrass created a film that encompasses the very essence of what it is like to be a victim of a mass act of violence and terrorism. The film’s most rhetorically effective aspect was the inclusion of the brutally graphic and realistic scenes of the terrorist attack being carried out.

The main goal of the film was to share the event on July 22, 2008, that disrupted the way of life for many Norwegian families and the Norwegian government as a whole. Viewers of the film will be exposed to the hardships faced by Viljar Hanssen and his family following his near brush with death.

22 July is a biographical crime drama that tells the true story of Viljar Hanssen’s life after he was shot multiple times and crippled by terrorist Anders Behring Brevik. The use of brutally graphic and realistic scenes truly brings this “based on a true story” to life.  Individuals who enjoy movies based on real life events and people will greatly enjoy this film. Due to the graphic and violent scenes, as well as indecent/offensive language the film should be rated R.

The director of the film did  magnificent job at putting together a film to share the event that uprooted Norway in 2008. 22 July is emotionally riveting and is a film that I will most definitely be rewatching and recommending to others.

All aspects of life are dependent on a successful harvest each year. However, in Malawi long dry periods followed by long wet periods and vice versa is detrimental to Malawian harvest. In 2001 a young man, William Kamkwamba, created a solution to his villages deadly problem.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a British biographical drama directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film details the inspiring true story of how William Kamkwamba saved his village from starvation during a dry season. William Kamkwamba is a boy who comes from a family of farmers from a small village in Malawi. When a drought destroys the harvest for the village William Kamkwamba blackmails his school teacher into letting him have access to the library to learn more about electrical engineering and energy.

In the film William Kamkwamba is portrayed by Maxwell Simba, a young boy from Kenya. Maxwell Simba takes on the persona of a brilliant, yet mischievous young boy who enjoys to take things apart and put new things together. The young actor’s performance is enlightening and inspiring when he finally engineers a way to save his dying village from famine and despair. Maxwell Simba perfectly embodies a young boy who is desperate to get an education and be more than the generations of farmers who preceded him; including his father. The supporting actors and actresses gave an equally compelling and riveting performance when compared to Maxwell Simba. As a whole the film based on the true story of William Kamkwamba was filled with fresh faces of talent. This talent blended well together to tell the story of how one boy, with the help of his village, was able to build a windmill to bring water to his small Malawian village.

What was very impressive about the biographical film was the raw emotions delivered by the cast. Their performance is was made the film a biographical film, rather than another box office production. Director Chiwetel Ejiofor’s choice to film the location in Malawi created an incredibly authentic and captivating story. What was rhetorically effective was the inclusion of Malawian and other African actors and actresses. This detail made the form more realistic as opposed to actors and actresses who have to fake an accent.

The main goal of the film was to bring to life the story of William Kamkwamba so the world will know of the remarkable accomplishments a young boy born to farmers in Malawi has accomplished thus far in his life. The final scenes and rolling credits of the film reveal that William Kamkwamba had later attended and graduated from the prestigious ivy league school Dartmouth College. Viewers of the film will be exposed to the rewards and honors that come when provided with the right opportunities and access to an education.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is a biographical film that tells the story of William Kamkwamba and how he save his village from famine by building a windmill. The film’s emphasis on loyalty to family and continued education makes this a film suitable and highly recommended for children. I would give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars. Individuals who enjoy movies based on real life events and people will greatly enjoy this film.

For a directorial debut film by director and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was a well put together film. This film is truly inspiring and is strongly recommended for families to enjoy together.