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THE KITE RUNNER 3 Stars – Thoughtful Based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite
Runner”
takes
us
into
the
world
of
Afghanistan
through
the
eyes
of
two
young
boys
whose
friendship
is
tested.
Set
in
the
years
prior
to,
during,
and
following
the
Russian
invasion
of
Afghanistan
25
years
ago,
Amir
(Zekeria
Ebrahimi
as
a
child
and
Khalid
Abdalla
as
an
adult)
and
Hassan
(Ahmad
Khan
Mahmidzada)
are
two
friends
from
different
racial
backgrounds
who
enjoy
each
other’s
company
and
loyalty,
as
well
as
a
passion
for
flying
kites.
Amir, like his father, has distinguished himself as a master
kite
flyer,
and
Hassan
is
his
loyal
friend
who
serves
as
a
kite
runner,
someone
who
retrieves
a
free-flowing
kite
released
during
a
competition. Like most young children, these two friends
are
oblivious
to
the
racial
prejudices
that
exist
in
the
larger
world. Not only is Hassan the son of a servant of
Amir’s
father,
he
is
also
considered
to
be
racially
and
socially
below
that
of
Amir’s
family. Despite the taunts that Hassan receives from older boys, his
love
and
loyalty
to
Amir
leads
him
to
protect
his
friend,
even
when
it
means
taking
physical
abuse
from
those
who
beat
him
for
entering
their
neighborhood.
In
a
particularly
difficult
circumstance,
Hassan
sustains
a
brutal
sexual
attack
rather
than
betraying
and
abandoning
his
friendship
to
Amir. Amir, on the other hand, becomes more fearful for his own safety
as
he
gets
older
and
feels
the
pressure
of
the
neighborhood
bullies.
Slowly,
Amir
abandons
his
friendship
with
Hassan
and
takes
on
more
of
the
racial
fears
of
his
peer
group.
A
man
of
strong
character,
Amir’s
father
models
a
loyalty
and
affection
for
Hassan’s
father
that
Amir
comes
to
appreciate
only
as
an
adult. When the Soviet Union enters Afghanistan in 1979, Amir’s father
leaves
his
property
in
the
care
of
Hassan’s
father
and
flees
the
country
in
the
midst
of
the
chaos
and
brutality
of
the
Russian
invasion. After a harrowing escape, Amir and his father
end
up
in
California,
where
Amir
grows
into
adulthood,
completes
college
and
falls
in
love.
Life
in
the
United
States
is
a
world
away
from
the
streets
of
Kabul. The story takes its strongest turn following his graduation
from
college.
Amir
receives
a
call
from
his
homeland
and
becomes
aware
of
the
fact
that
his
childhood
friend
Hassan
has
died. Hassan, as it turns out, had a son who is being abused by the Taliban,
who
are
now
in
control
of
the
country. With fear and trepidation, Amir makes the choice to return to Afghanistan
and
rescue
the
boy
as
a
way
of
relieving
the
guilt
he
feels
for
abandoning
his
loyal
friend
years
earlier.
Without giving away the story, this trip back into the world
of
the
Taliban
reveals
a
darkness
in
the
soul
of
humankind. The evil perpetuated by these self-righteous
religious
leaders
is
haunting.
As
is
often
the
case,
those
who
preach
purity
the
loudest
often
have
much
dirt
to
hide.
The
Taliban
leader
who
is
abusing
Hassan’s
son
is
the
same
man
who,
as
a
teenager,
abused
Hassan
himself. In the end, Amir is able to give Hassan’s son a life filled
with
the
loving
kindness
and
safety
that
had
escaped
his
father. It was Hassan’s unwavering love for his childhood
friend
all
those
years
ago
that
set
the
stage
for
the
healing
that
ultimately
occurs.
Regardless
of
the
ways
we
fail
in
our
relationships
with
one
another,
it
is
a
remarkable
testament
to
the
power
of
forgiveness
and
the
depth
of
love
that
seeds
planted
decades
earlier
during
the
innocence
of
childhood
can
grow
to
maturity.
Discussion:
________________ Cinema In Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary.
Hal
Conklin
is
former
mayor
of
Santa
Barbara
and
Denny
Wayman
is
pastor
of
the
Free
Methodist
Church.
For
more
reviews:
http://www.cinemainfocus.com.
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