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The Kite Runner (2007)

Director: Marc Forster

Time Out rating

Average user rating

49 reviews

Synopsis

‘The Kite Runner’ is the film of the international bestselling book which tells the story of Amir, a well-to-do boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, who is haunted by the guilt of betraying his childhood friend Hassan, the son of his father's Hazara servant. It is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan through the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the Taliban regime.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Adapted from the best-selling novel by Afghan-born American writer Khaled Hosseini, this accessible, deftly-directed and moving tale of childhood regret and adult atonement courses through three decades of war-torn Afghan history in personal terms. In 1978, preceding the Soviet invasion, privileged seven-year-old Kabul boy Amir (Zekeria Ebrahmi) witnesses the rape of his friend and fellow kite-flyer, lower-class Hazara servant Hassan (the expressive and contained Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) by the malevolent Assef. Confused and angered by his own powerlessness, guilt, and shame, Amir frames his erstwhile companion for theft and is further admonished by the morally pure, loyal and self-abnegating behaviour of his victim, something that troubles the aspirant-writer Amir through his 20-odd years of exile in the US. In the present, a visit to Pakistan to see his dead father’s dying friend, offers news of Hassan’s fate, and prompts the older, now-married Amir (Khalid Abdalla) to a dangerous visit to his now Taliban-controlled home.

Notwithstanding the inevitable tendency of individual stories set against momentous national upheavals to conflate and simplify historical events, Marc ‘Finding Neverland’ Forster’s film achieves minor miracles within the bounds of his broadly conventional narrative. His sober approach allows a surprising level of complexity in his film’s wider interest in themes of guilt, displacement, honour and conflicting traditions, while his sensitivity to the emotional responses of his characters – both adult and child – is never overwhelmed nor upstaged by his incorporation of challenging dramatic scenes (such as a startlingly brutal stoning of an adulterous couple in a Kabul stadium). Likewise, the film’s belief in the power of redemption and its subtle assertion of the need for moral courage in personal (or political) conflict, is never allowed to get in the way of its boldly told, intelligent, informed and affecting story.

Author: Wally Hammond 2007-12-17 15:10:44

Time Out London Issue 1948: December 19 2007-January 1 2008

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User reviews of this film

Arun said...

Posted on Jan 13 2008 20:46 A film you can believe - unlike a lot from America. Cinema was packed out - word has got out - don't miss out.

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Sarah said...

Posted on Jan 13 2008 13:29 Going to go and see this evening - looking forward to it!
Willy - your spelling is shocking, are you sure you're over 12??!! I personally don't trust your opinion - you cannot even spell 'that' and 'heart'! Alvin and the Chipmonks is probably more suitable for you!!

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FH said...

Posted on Jan 12 2008 20:46 I new nothing about the book got dragged along - how glad I was. Everything about it was amazing. The acting was superb, Should have more publicity we get told enough about other tripe.

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robbie said...

Posted on Jan 12 2008 18:06 After walking out halfway through the appalling St Trinians tosh we moved to another, and empty screen and saw The Kite Runner. From the apallingly ridiculous to the entrancingly SUBLIME. So moving, insightful, intelligent and above all, EXCELLENT! THIS IS A MUST SEE FILM.

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Samir said...

Posted on Jan 12 2008 11:45 One amasing film, it tells the true story of a people and nation, which is mis represented in todays confusing political world and media. Go and watch this movie peeeps, This movie is fantastic

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Steve Tate said...

Posted on Jan 12 2008 11:42 Im on my way to watch this The Kite runner, The book has had a massive impact in our personal family lives and changed things quite dramaticly. We just hope the film dont take all that away from us, as many films do.

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purshot said...

Posted on Jan 09 2008 23:08 Beautifully shot, great recreation of 70s Kabul and atmosphere, astonishing performances from all especially the kids, this is moving beyond words. Totally watchable, utterly unmissable. A real gem.

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Murray said said...

Posted on Jan 09 2008 13:16 Haven't seen the film yet butread the book - lookin forward to it - to the reviewer Willy maybe you should stick to watching films such as Rocky or Rambo and reading janet n John books...

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Anna said...

Posted on Jan 07 2008 22:43 Having read the book I was curious to see the film and I'm glad I did. I thought the casting of the two young boys was excellent, the photography was superb and overall the film was very true to the book. It matched and indeed enhanced the mental pictures I had already formed from the story. Excellent.

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shamsa said...

Posted on Jan 07 2008 22:34 i thinkthis film was really touching sumthing diffrent loyalty it bought a tear to my eye but think it should not be a 12a

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JJ said...

Posted on Jan 07 2008 21:44 This film is marvellous..very moving and beautifully filmed.The 2 child actors are fantastic. I can't understand why this film has not had more press attention, it is definitely one worth seeing.

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lottie said...

Posted on Jan 05 2008 12:35 amazing, really really worth seeing. definately a tear jerker, but makes you think. just sad its had such little press and advertisment, in comparison to films like st trinains!
but really fantastic and the children actors were awesome.

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willy said...

Posted on Jan 02 2008 19:15 dat film did not move my eart one bit it was well dissapointin, i think the actors sucked.

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Sara said...

Posted on Jan 02 2008 18:47 It is a great movie! just makes you think how many people suffering in the world. Even though this aint real based story we all know its been happening! Its great. Made me cry a few times =D must SEE

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debra said...

Posted on Jan 02 2008 11:53 I have not seen this film but was looking at the reviews written by those who have watched it. I have to say that if 'Willy' wants his review to be taken seriously then he needs to learn to write properly first. No-one could take your comments earnestly but then again maybe you do not want them to?

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