The Kite Runner
Khalid Abdalla. Directed by Marc Forster based on the best selling book by Khaled Hosseini. Rated PG-13 for strong thematic material, violence and brief strong language. 2007, Drama. Cami’s Critique: 
I was invited to watch a screening of this movie while I was in Vegas. I went with my friend Amanda who always seems to find fun cultural things like this. The movie itself was pretty intense. To see a different kind of view of a country going through war was very interesting. Afghanistan is where this movie takes place and Amir is the name of the main character and that in itself affected me even more. Watching him grow up in a turbulent country on the verge of war with Russia with his best friend Hassan we see the daily life of these two boys. In the first few scenes of the movie we are swept through the streets of Kabul in a kite flying competition in which the two boys are winning. Other events of the day have a rippling effect that causes problems in the relationship. Soon after Amir moves to the US with his father to escape the problems in their country. It was also very interesting to see the lives of Amir´s family before they arrived and what they had to go through once they got to the US.
20 years later Amir is contacted by an old family friend pleading him to come back to Afghanistan. His journey back home turnes out to be a way to redeem his “fearful act of betrayal” to his friend Hassan. Scenes of the Taliban in action made my stomach knot up. It just sickened me to see such horrible hateful people and their actions.
We had the opprotunity to meet the actor who played Amir. He was in the theater to take questions and talk about his experience. I have never attended an event like that and it was incomparable. He added an entire new depth to the movie by being able to share his point of view as an actor. His comments on being an Arabic actor in the world after Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq were thought provoking.
I left the theater in tears. Sad for seeing the lives of two innocent boys so dissrupted and how hatred and war can tear friendships, oneself and a country apart.
This movie is sad but it´s so real. It´s heart wrenching but it opens your mind. One of the phrases in the movie was “be good again”. I really liked this idea and Amir´s actions help you believe that it is possible.
I’ve seen the previews to this one, it looks wonderful. You can tell it’s going to be an emotional and powerful movie. Thanks for the recommendation Cami!
Comment by Cin — April 3, 2008 @ 6:46 am
Sounds good Cami,
The book was quite famous too – in fact I didn’t realize it had been made into a movie. I’ll have to check it out.
Comment by Rusty — April 3, 2008 @ 10:48 am
Cami,
great review! I read the book and it was very powerful also. I can’t wait to see the movie. Sometimes it is so hard to watch movies like this where peoples lives are so disrupted, but it gives us perspective. I look forward to seeing it.
Comment by Raelynn — April 3, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
Thanks for the review. It must have been a great opportunity to hear from the lead actor and gain more understanding of the movie. I’ll have to check it out.
Comment by Dane — April 5, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Didn’t you guys have the book? I’ll have to see it. Good review Tia.
Comment by Sadie — April 6, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
Wow, thanks for the review! I’ve read about it at the movie rental store but haven’t seen this one. It sounds really intense and very real. What an experience to be able to talk with the actor and hear his take on it.
Comment by Mari — April 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm