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The Kite Runner
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Khalid Abdalla
Genre:
Foreign/Drama
Run Time: 128
min.
Release Date:
December 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
THE KITE RUNNER is
one of those modern epics that one is occasionally graced with. Spanning
two continents, multiple family generations, and many decades, this film
touches on a myriad of items including friendship, love, loss, and,
ultimately, redemption.
It’s prime mover is young Amir (Zekeria Ebrahimi), a native Afghan boy
who often plays with the hired help; mainly young Hassan (Ahmad Khan
Mahmoodzada), a Hazara boy who’s family is supposedly inferior to the
ruling Afghans. But the two form a bond of friendship based on education
(Amir teaches Hassan to read), closeness in Amir’s house, and, of
course, kite flying.
But bad times are on the way for the city of Kabul. The communists are
invading and Amir and Hassan have separated due to an impossibly brutal
act of prejudice by an Afghan boy against Hassan. The two may never see
each other again.
Amir’s father races to get himself and his son out of Afghanistan,
eventually finding their way to America. Here the two set up a gas
station and live hand to mouth by selling at niche markets. And as
Amir’s father gradually becomes ill, a new revelation will strike to the
heart of Amir; one that he cannot ignore and requires his return to his
beloved Kabul.
A study of friendship, war, and reconciliation, The Kite Runner
is truly a fantastic piece of cinema. The story is never inappropriately
spoken in English whenever we’re in a foreign country, and only broken
English whenever we’re in America. This was refreshing and lent itself
to a sense of realism.
The acting was on-par with the best you’ll see, too. Particular note
must be made of Homayoun Ershadi who plays Baba, Amir’s ailing father
and strong patriarch. Also lead Khalid Abdalla as the older Amir is
played well, especially when returning to Kabul to find it in ruin;
quite the contrast from when he’d left.
The cinematography of Afghanistan during Amir’s escape and ultimate
return are nothing short of breathtaking, with snow-capped peaks that
will cause your mouth to slacken (I’m not sure exactly which mountain
range they used in the film, but wherever it was I want to go there and
film it myself!)
But it isn’t the cinematography nor the acting of one or two people that
makes this film a success. It is a simple story told very well that
makes it worth any movie watchers’ while. Highly recommended.
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Image from The Kite Runner
DVD cost: $16.76
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
In many of the kite flying
shots, the children were pulling balloons and the kites were added in
post-production.
Movie Quote: "I
dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I
dream that someday you will return to revisit the land of our childhood.
I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again... and kites will
fly in the skies!"
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Kite Runner
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