Movie Review: K is for The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is a wonderful film, based on the bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini.  The story is set in Kabul, Afghanistan, 1978, prior to the Soviets arrival and the rise of the Taliban.  The main protagonist is a young boy, Amir, -son of a well to do Afghan, and it's his childhood that we follow, his days at school, his relationship with his father, whose approval he strives to attain, and central to Amir's story is his friend, Hassan, -the son of Amir's fathers servant.  The two boys spend idyllic afternoons racing kites with the rest of the neighbourhood, and its during the biggest Kite Race of the year, that their friendship is truly tested.  And, it's twenty years later, that Amir returns from America, to make good on a secret that he's harboured since leaving Afghanistan with his father. This is a richly woven tale of brotherly love, relationships, lost innocence, envy, forgiveness and acceptance.  Yes, -it's all that and more.

Now, it's true that I cry at the drop of a hat, but not since watching 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' have I been so moved by a film, it's possible that I sobbed through the entire second half of the movie, many tissues were tossed onto the sofa that night.  This is not due to female hormones either, this story touched the hearts of a good number of my male friends, who I can safely confirm without fear of retribution, -cried, like boys, for a long time afterwards.  Film kudos to the director, Marc Forster, and the brilliant cast, but above all, -full credit to Khaled Hosseini for writing such a beautiful tale.

The Kite Runner is a PG rated film, and beware some scenes may upset you.  Overall, it's in my top 10 movies list.  And, I have a long list, my friends.  Well worth viewing... I hope you do.