The Kite Runner: A Must-See Film that Deserves Recognition

The Kite Runner, based on the book with the same title, tells the story of two young boys living in Afghanistan before the Russian invasion. Bridging the gulf of class differences, Amir and Hassan are inseparable companions until betrayal turns one against the other. Amir and his father immigrate to America while Hassan remains behind. Twenty years pass with guilt eating away at Amir's heart until a chance phone call offers him a chance at redemption.

Amir is the son of a wealthy man, and Hassan's father is his servant. Although the social and economic gap seems insurmountable, the boys are the best of friends. They are also a kite flying team, competing in an annual competition, which they win. After their victory, Hassan is horribly assaulted by jealous competitors while Amir slinks cowardly away. Amir, unable to express his guilt, begins to turn against Hassan in anger and he frames Hassan as a thief, getting him banished from the house. Shortly afterward, fearing the imminent Soviet invasion, Amir and his father relocate to America.

Twenty years have passed since the move and Amir has been torn apart with guilt over his betrayal of his best friend. When he receives a surprise call from an old friend, he sees a chance to atone for his terrible acts and jumps at the offer. He must smuggle himself back into Afghanistan, now controlled by the Taliban, in order to aid the son of Hassan and redeem himself. When Amir sees what has become of his country, he realizes the fate he has condemned his friend to.

This is one of those rare times when a movie loyally follows the book it was created from. Viewers get a chance to see Afghans before their name was recognized the world over for war and terror; we see them portrayed not as religious zealots but simply as people. The actors, while virtually unknown in the U.S. deliver powerful and very real performances that will draw watchers in to the story. The movie is largely done in English with some subtitled Pashtu and Urdu content, lending even more realism to this effort. This is a powerful movie that speaks to all of us about the cost of betrayal and the long road to redemption. I think on some level, it gives people hope that we each may get the opportunity to atone for the sins of our past.

The Kite Runner is one of those rare gems, tucked away in a pile of nondescript films destined not to achieve wide recognition, which is too bad, because it is one of the most potent films to be released in a long time. I highly recommend this film to anyone who can appreciate the nobility of the human spirit and the depths it can plunge to. See this in the theater or on video, but see it.