Production Company: Paramount Vantage
Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Shaun Toub, Atossa Leoni, Saïd Taghmaoui, Zekeria Ebrahibi, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, Ali Danish Bakhytari
Rating: PG-13 for strong thematic material including the rape of a child, violence and brief strong language
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org)—“I forgive you.” With the exception of “I love you,” could there be another phrase more filled with healing and release? Receiving forgiveness—release from a terrible debt and the burden of guilt—is the message at the heart of Khaled Hosseini's acclaimed 2003 novel, “The Kite Runner,” a parable-like tale of childhood friendship shattered by guilt and betrayal that finally leads to poetic redemption. The question is: could a film do it justice? For the book’s legions of fans, as well as those new to the story, the news is good. Director Marc Forster’s The Kite Runner is a striking success—told with grace, sensitivity, and lyrical power.
For a relatively new director, Marc Forster has built quite a resume, including Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland and Stranger Than Fiction. Throughout, he has shown an uncanny ability to adapt his directorial style to best serve the story, essentially showing himself to be a master storyteller, not merely a stylist. And this is essential for The Kite Runner, because above all else, it’s a marvelous story. As a film, Kite Runner is light on action, special effects and star power, but overflowing with human drama, endearing relationships, and cataclysmic life choices. A love story of a different kind, it exquisitely explores the depths of love as it applies to friendship, family and forgiveness. Since what happens, and to whom, is so important to The Kite Runner, I will take care not to reveal too much of the story.
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Amir (Zekiria Ebrahimi) is a bookish dreamer from Kabul’s upper class while Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada) is the son of his family’s servant from the lower “Hazarra” class.
Copyright © 2007 Paramount Vantage
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Beginning in 1978, the story spans more than 20 years—from the end of Afghanistan’s monarchy through the brutal occupation by the Soviet Union to the atrocities of the Taliban reign. It centers on the improbable friendship between two young boys, Amir and Hassan. Amir is a bookish dreamer from Kabul’s upper class while Hassan is the son of his family’s servant from the lower “Hazarra” class. Despite their differences in social status and education, the two are thick as thieves. But their friendship will be tested. In face of this challenge, one will show true devotion, even self sacrifice, while the other will respond in weakness, fear and self-protection. Their lives will be marked forever by these events and their choices, and only after many years will past sins be made right and their deep love come full circle.
Viewers should prepare for an emotional roller coaster ride that may leave you drained, but deeply satisfied. You should know, if you don’t already, that the film (as the book did) includes one particularly brutal act: the rape of a child. I believe director Forster handles the scene with as much taste and restraint as he can, while preserving all the emotional power the scene deserves. But there are also moments of sublime joy, such as when Amir and Hassan win a neighborhood kite-flying competition. In fact, Amir and Hassan’s friendship is one of the most believable and touching portrayals of youthful devotion I’ve ever seen. And more than just pulling emotional strings, the film will leave you wiser as well, particularly through Amir’s knowing and principled father who instructs his son in both word and action.
This is a truly international story, traversing Afghanistan, Pakistan and America. Many languages are spoken and much of the movie relies on English subtitles. But don’t let this dissuade you, because the story is universal.
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The film contains moments of sublime joy, such as when Amir and Hassan win a neighborhood kite-flying competition.
Copyright © 2007 Paramount Vantage
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While I got an enlightening glimpse at the rich, ancient culture and traditions of Afghanistan, I was most struck by how this story, with its themes of class tension, honor and fading traditions could easily have been transported to almost any setting where friendship and prejudice clash, and where real character is revealed against the facade of status—from the American old south to a present day border town in Texas. The story also offers a sobering lesson on religious extremism. Though focusing on the ultra-strict Muslim Taliban who are seen stoning an adulterer, we should remember that in colonial America, similarly strict Puritans burned falsely accused witches at the stake.
The Kite Runner is a rich and rewarding tale that explores redemptive love, the power of forgiveness and those things that are universal to all people—friendship, family, pride, strength as well as weakness and, as one character says in the film, “how to be good again.” In fact, it’s never too late to make right an old wrong. The National Board of Review has already named The Kite Runner as one of the ten best films of the year. Take the time to find out why.
Study questions
- What did you think was the main theme of the film? Was there only one?
- Why did Amir not act in Hassan’s defense following the kite competition? Was he afraid? Ashamed? Did class prejudice play into it?
- Amir’s father tells him, “The only real sin is theft” and goes on to explain that, “When you kill a man you rob him of his life. When you lie to someone, you rob them of their right to the truth.” What did you think of this as a moral lesson?
- Why did Amir feel the need to shame Hassan? How did this relate to Amir’s own shame?
- Why did Hassan allow Amir to throw pomegranates at him? With this action what do you think Amir was trying to say to Hassan?
- This story was set almost entirely among Muslims. Do you feel its messages and issues (including about religion) are accessible and applicable to Christians? For example, what would Jesus have said about the stoning scene? (See John 8:1-11.)
- In what ways was Hassan Christ-like?
- What was your first impression of Amir’s father? What did you think of him when he stopped the assault in the truck? Had your opinion of him continued to change by the end?
- Amir’s father told him, “The mullah’s want to control our souls, and the communists tell us we don’t have one.” What did he mean? Can you relate to what he says, considering his circumstances?
