Monday, February 9, 2009

The Kite Runner (PG-13-2007)

"The Kite Runner" amazed me. If I had read the synopsis for this movie alone, I would never have watched it. It seemed like it was an arthouse type movie that is considered great, but is probably boring. It absolutely was not. The story engages you right from the start and keeps you focused and interested as the story unfolds. This is a story of friendship, loyalty, fear and making amends. It is the story of Amir and Hassan, two friends growing up in Afghanistan just prior to the Russian invasion. Hassan's family are servants to Amir's family and the boys are best of friends. Hassan will do "anything" for Amir, so deep is his devotion. Amir is a quiet boy who dreams of being a writer, but is a very timid soul. When they begin to get harassed by bullies, events transpire that will change their friendship forever. The movie then jumps around, following Amir's story as his family flees the country during the Russian onslaught. Amir ends up in the U.S., but is eventually summoned home when Hassan's family is in crisis. He returns to an Afghanistan under the Taliban and we get a good luck at the destruction and oppression that is now present in his homeland. This movie is very well-done and manages to tell a mini-history of Afghanistan while telling the story of these two friends. It is also interesting to see the social classes that existed in Afghanistan carry over to the U.S., illustrated through a character who was a colonel back home and still commands the respect of his people here and, in fact, insists on it. The movie was recommended to me by some friends and I am very glad they did. It is a very interesting, compelling, educational story and I found it to be one of the better movies I have seen in a while. Definitely recommended.

Grade: A

Trailer:

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