Kite flying is a delicate art
reliant on good weather, the right gust of wind, skilled hands and a well-made
kite. Mark Forster's "The Kite Runner" is a beautiful film, and, much like the
art of its namesake, the film is successful due to the skills of its director
and cast, a contemporary public interest in Middle Eastern themes and its
acclaimed source material.
"The Kite Runner," adapted from the novel of the same name
by Afghani-born American physician Khaled Hosseini, is an engrossing tale of
honor, morality and social critique. Beginning in
flight of a kite as it floats in the breeze, which becomes the film's metaphor
for innocent morality and the freedom that accompanies that goodness.
This kite also recalls memories of home for Amir (Khalid Abdalla, "United
93"), a writer born in
who now lives in
and has finally finished his first book. Amir receives a phone call from his
childhood friend Hassan who tells him a loved-one is dying and the writer must
return to the
strained and bittersweet for both men and an extended flashback begins to
explain the tremulous nature of their relationship.
So begins the stunning first act of "The Kite Runner," in
which standout newcomers Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada play childhood
friends Amir and Hassan.
Amir and his father live affluent lives in beautiful '70s
poor son of their dedicated servant. Despite their culturally separated social
classes — characterized by two different ethnic groups within the country —
Hassan is steadfastly devoted to his friend who is able to attend school and
writes stories for fun while he is forced to clean and work at home waiting to
hear the stories his friend so skillfully tells.
Every year, the children of
duel with each other by guiding their kites skillfully in an attempt to cut
those of their competitors down from the sky. Amir and Hassan participate in
the day's games and are victorious — a win which is featured in a breathtaking
sequence of aerial shots. Hassan runs off in an ultimately disastrous attempt
to find the final falling kite as a trophy for Amir. In the chase, the boy is
accosted by teens who hate those of his race, the unfairly maligned Hazara, and
is assaulted in an alley because he will not give up the prize meant for his
friend. In an act of betrayal, Amir witnesses this event occur, but fails to assist
his friend in need.
The events of that day alter the friendship of the two boys,
and the delicate dance of the kites in the air becomes the incarnation of
Amir's guilt as he is no longer able to accept his friend's unfaltering
loyalty. Further betrayal and the Soviet invasion of 1979 further separate the
two, and Amir eventually immigrates to
about Hassan until the conversation between the two at the beginning of the
film.
Hosseini's story has Amir return to a now Taliban-controlled
Afghanistan where all the beauty of his childhood has vanished. This quest to
his homeland serves as a frame for shocking depictions of a brutal stoning, the
colorless streets of a relatively barren Kabul, and a child enslaved from an
orphanage to dance for and sexually service religious authority. "The Kite
Runner" is a poignant reminder of Afghani culture under the control of the
Taliban, and its politically volatile themes are stirring. However, Forster
employs the emotions of his cast and uses captivating writing to justify the
motives of Taliban leaders instead of merely condemning their beliefs, laws and
actions. In addition, ample doses of witty humor — often playing on the
societal norms of honor and class observed by Amir's father Baba (Homayoun Ershadi, "Color
of Friend") — provide a break from these darker themes and allow the film to
address these topics without becoming strained.
Ultimately, "The Kite Runner" is the story of Amir and
Hassan's relationship and Amir's attempt to vindicate and repay his friend for
unfaltering sacrifice. The loss of a child's innocence is a weighty theme to
address, but newcomers Ebrahimi and Mahmidzada's impressive performances are a
boon for the film and propel this heavy concept by avoiding the limited
dialogue that plagues many child performances and portraying the motivations
and emotions of their characters in a captivating fashion. Good and evil is presented
as a continuum, as Amir is able to seek retribution, while even the most
despicable character in the film is given justification — Forster even goes so
far as to dress him in a white robe that stands out from a stadium full of
darkly dressed citizens. This play on morality also allows "The Kite Runner" to
avoid the pitfalls of cultural critiques, focusing not on the immoral nature of
the guilty but on their attempts to better themselves and do what is right.
"The Kite Runner" is an emotional film that carries some
strong messages. Its look at a culture maligned by the press and often despised
from a Western standpoint is far from one-sided, and this approach makes the
film both formidable and culturally relevant. Technically, the film is a
picturesque look at the Middle East, and its panoramic views of
acrobatics of kite flying are a delight. Though some of the film's characters
fail to stand out, those that do carry the heavy plot and deliver truly
outstanding performances.
Amir's eventual quest to redeem himself and forget the sins
of his past are a powerful look into the pains and obligations of friendship.
Even more so, "The Kite Runner" is an engrossing look at
its people and the codes of honor and love that tie us all together, and it brings
the pages of Hosseini's novel evocatively to the screen.
4 out of 5 stars
