Making right on past wrongs

Heard a lot of good press regarding this book and movie, so I finally decided to rent it.

Kite Runner: Awarded a "Truly Moving Movie" honour

The story is set in America and Afghanistan, with 2 boys as the main characters. One is wealthy and of high status, Amir, the other is a servant's son, Hassan. Amir is intellectual, waited on hand and foot, spoilt. Hassan is courageous and overtly loyal to the point of self sacrificing. Despite this, they are close friends up to the point of Kabul's kite flying contest. Both boys worked together and managed to clinch the kite flying tournament. Later on, during a moment of incredible cowardice, Amir allowed Hassan to be beaten up for his sake. Amir even went so far as to get Hassan and his father evicted from his home, deeply wronging his companion and severing ties with each other. Then the Russian invasion of Afghanistan began, and Amir flees to America.


Amir leads a sheltered, safe life in America, whilst the Taliban takes over Afghanistan. Later on, news reaches Amir that Hassan has been murdered in Afghanistan, and that both these childhood friends are really brothers of the same father.


Trying to right a wrong with Hassan, Amir journeys into the heart of Kabul to pluck Hassan's young son, Sohrab away to America for a better life. On the way, we see examples of Taliban extreemism, violence, injustice. After mortal danger, Amir succeeds in locating and whisking Hassan's child, and rightfully his nephew back to America.


The film concludes with Amir teaching Sohrab kite running, and gives Hassan due praise for all his skill and nobility by sharing all of Hassan's goodness with young Sohrab. Sohrab, although initially treating Amir as a stranger, slowly accepts Amir, and the Amir's wrong is slowly being righted.


I thought this film would be highly preachy. There are some gruesome highlights, e.g. stoning of an adulterous couple. But other parts are handled with deftness, e.g. class and social standing, honour and shame, courage to stand up for belief and being loyal to those you care about.


One of my favourite scenes is how Hassan's bravery with the slingshot is again shown by Sohrab years later, and again it was done in defence of Amir.


Another part I love is the beauty of Kabul and the Afghan mountains. Instead of the images of war and violence, we often forget that the Afghan countryside are amongst the most scenic in the world. Kudos to the film makers for highlighting this.

That is postcard perfect, that is...

Righting a wrong done to an innocent party is not a new theme for movies. Kite Runner succeeds in using childhood friendship as the key element and ending it with a salute to this element again when Amir reaches out to Sohrab.

It was a good movie. It exceeds expectations. Is it exceptional in the tear jerking and heart moving department? Not for myself personally. But in a world where high tech gimmicks and unbelievably photogenic movie stars grace the screens, Kite Runner is a welcome breath of fresh Afghan mountain air. Here's hoping more such tales of human spirit continue to be written and made to films.

Sohrab-jan.... fly as your father flew.