Chapter 1: The Kite Runner Movie Review
The Kite Runner Movie Review
When is the last time you watched a movie that is packed with emotion and suspense? Ever heard of the 2007 American drama film "The Kite Runner"? According to the internet movie database (IMDB), the movie is based on a mega-best seller novel of the same name from Khaled Hosseini. The story involves two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan who share their free time flying kites in the neighborhood. Mr. Hosseini writes stories that we could refer to as pure stories, corroborated with a depth of reality. "Working from Khaled Hosseini's best seller, director Forster and his screenwriter created a film that overrides the emotional withdrawal we often have when a story moves between past and present" (Ebert). I identified three most conspicuous themes depicted in movie. Political upheaval is dominant. The way it is conveyed is utterly effective. Also, betrayal is a major theme, it is revealed in many circumstances like when Amir fails to stand up and defend Hassan while he is beaten and raped by the neighborhood bully, Assef. Similarly, guilt is another major theme surrounding Amir's character. Amir's guilt about Hassan makes him angry that he plants some evidence on Hassan to render him a thief. These themes will be discussed in the coming paragraphs.
As mentioned above, the theme of Political upheaval is clearly evident in the movie. I identified this theme because there are several instances where the plot of the movie reflects on it. For instance; the rising political tension sees the Russians invade Afghanistan in 1979. The city of Kabul is decimated; Baba and Amir are then forced to flee from their war-torn country to settle in the Bay area of San Francisco, California. Similarly, the Taliban takes over Kabul and Murders Hassan, and even gives the Assef a position in the insurgent government that enables the them to extend their inhuman acts. Betrayal as a theme is also prevalent in some scenes. For instance; when Hassan follows Amir's kite to where it should land, the Assef spots him, assaults and rapes him leaving him with fatal injuries while Amir watches from a distance. Guilt as a major theme is seen in the scenes where Amir makes his journey to Kabul to confront the Assef and redeem himself from the unfortunate childhood events with Hassan. In addition, guilt is themed in the scenes where Baba blames Amir for the passing of Amir's mother during the birth of Amir, and this makes Amir feel responsible for her death.
Political Upheaval
Security in Kabul deteriorated as the Soviet Union took over. This prompted Baba and Amir's movement to California in search for peace and freedom. This was due to the rising political instability escalated by the Russians. Similarly, the Assef assaulted and raped Hassan leaving him with fatal wounds. This happened majorly because the Assef were friends with the government amid rising tension, and therefore could get away with almost every crime. The two instances therefore, evidently reveal the theme of political upheaval effectively. These events trigger deep emotional feelings to the viewers of course, since we have to witness several inhuman acts in the plot, and the adult Amir is worst hit by these feelings.
Betrayal
Betrayal is similarly a dominant theme in the movie. Hassan majorly acts as the kite runner to Amir and hence he has to fetch Amir's kites where they land, an art that he has skilfully mastered. On this fateful day, while the boys are enjoying the kit flying as usual, Hassan runs into Assef and they beat and **** him severely. This transpires while Amir watches from a distance and cowardice gets the best of him and he is unable to help his friend. Amir is aware that this is a great act of betrayal and he is hence overcome by guilt.
Guilt
The adult Amir feels guilty about the things he did to Hassan. First he failed to rescue him from the rage of Assef, second he planted evidence to frame and defame him, and lastly his anger drove him to throw fruits at Hassan in attempt to frustrate him. After receiving the telephone call from Rahim Khan, his father's friend, who said "You should come home. There is a way to be good again." The adult Amir is confronted by a series of old memories and the reality at hand, he therefore decides to make his way to Afghanistan in an attempt to face the Assef and redeem himself from the guilt of his childhood with Hassan (Dargis). Also, as a kid that feels he is responsible for the death of his mother, Amir thinks he has to win the kite tournament so he can impress Baba who blames him for his mother's passing. These scenes explicitly point that guilt is a major theme in the film.
IMDB Review by Ferguson-6
"Greetings again from the darkness. Based on the mega-best seller from author Khaled Hosseini, the film provides us a peak at the ugliness of post-Russia invasion of Afghanistan and the terror of the Taliban. Director Marc Foster adds a gem to his resume, which already includes "Monster's Ball", "Finding Neverland" and "Stranger than Fiction""
"The story of young friends Amir and Hassan and the unknown bond they share into the next generation. This is a story of honor and courage and loyalty and is an unusual coming-of-age tale. Some great scenes of the boys when they are kids and then a couple of truly amazing scenes as Amir returns as an adult to find Hassan's imprisoned son. This is a tight, compelling story telling with a message. The acting is solid throughout, with no one actor stealing the screen. Although not a pleasant story to watch unfold, it is certainly meaningful and heartfelt. Plus a quick shot of "Midnight Oil" playing in the pool hall as a welcome gift."
In conclusion, "The Kite Runner" effectively projects the depths of the three themes that I identified above. Political instability is on the rise, escalated by the Soviet Union and Afghanistan's rebel groups. Betrayal is witnessed between Amir and Hassan and this leads to the guilt that catches up with the adult Amir. In my opinion, I believe this film displays an abundance of these three themes. The plot is perfect, a catchy and yet an emotional storyline which gives us a sense of empathy for the characters
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