The Kite Runner
Family values clash with religion in The Kite Runner.
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Wednesday, 26, Dec 2007 02:00
Directed by Marc Forester, out Wednesday December 26th, in cinemas, starring Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, Homayoun Ershadi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, running time 128 mins.
In a Nutshell:
Sad, Controversial, Well-crafted, Slow, Provocative.
What's it all about?
In the film adaption of Khaled Hosseini's first novel, Amir, an Afghan man who fled to America with his father after the Soviet invasion, must return to Afghanistan to find a child. In doing so, he hopes to find forgiveness for choices he made when he was young. However, now controlled by the Taliban, the Afghanistan he returns to is much different from the one he left behind. Finding the child becomes a rescue mission as Amir struggles to navigate his own past as well as the militant Taliban authorities who have taken the child. Given some of the film's intense and violent scenes and its nasty portrayal of the Taliban, it is no wonder that it has become a controversial and politically-charged piece of media culture. And it is worth watching just for that reason.
Who's in it?
Khalid Abdalla (United 93), who plays the film's protagonist, is very believable as Amir. Beginning very awkwardly and naively with his courting of Soraya, played by Atossa Leoni (America So Beautiful), we witness his character's transformation into adulthood. Having not read the book, I'm uncertain of his likeness to the Amir represented in the text; nonetheless, Abdalla's portrayal of him traces his transformation in a convincing manner, albeit bewilderedly so. Additionally, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, who plays Hassan (Amir's young servant), is a delight. Homayoun Ershadi (Colour of Friend, Portrait of a Lady Far Away) is very convincing and amiable as Amir's courageous yet mysterious father.
As an example:
"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."
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
Given the largely positive critical reception of this film, it really does have a shot and has already received nominations for the Golden Globe's Best Picture and Best Young Actor (Mahmidzada).
What others say
"Some plot turns in The Kite Runner feel predictable and contrived, but there's nothing false about the film's overall redemptive flight." - John Wirt, Advocate
"The film has the same weaknesses and strengths as the novel. And its greatest weakness is that the main character is the least interesting and just about the least sympathetic." - Jeffery Westhoff, Northwst Herald
"A sweet and masterful story of survival, transcendence, loyalty and friendship told with striking cinematography. A spiritual piece of work." - Ron Wilinson, Monsters and Critics
So is it any good?
This is a sad story with a happy ending. The biggest problem is, as Jeffery Westhoff suggested, with the protagonist. In spite of his hardships and experiences, he fails to earn the viewers' appreciation. His naivety is frustrating and he is simply uncharismatic throughout the film. Additionally, it seems as though many fans of the novel have been highly critical of its film adaption (as is inevitably the case). However, from my view, this does not stop the film from being highly relevant and thought-provoking.
The child actors were the true highlight of the film and there seemed something unmistakably authentic and real about their performance. The scene where young Amir pelts Hassan with rotten fruit was particularly moving.
Although it serves to fortify the characters, the mid-section of the movie seems to drag a bit as we watch Amir stumble through the death of his father and his relationship with Soraya. His return to Afghanistan, though, once again immerses us in the reality of his situation, and, after a climactic rescue, the film's ending kite flying metaphor and Amir's true realisation of his adult self is welcome and well-executed.
Overall, the film succeeds in providing a fresh and elucidating view of Afghanistan and the difficulties the country and its people face, although it steers clear of providing any solution as such (aside from escape to the United States). The film gives us a vivid view into the realities of Taliban rule and the contemporary history of Afghanistan from a ground-level (although markedly 'Westernised') view.
7.5 / 10
Spencer Thanhouser