The Kite Runner - film review

 The Kite Runner Review – 4.5/5

Amazing. Terrific. Electrifying. Words do not suffice in expressing how I found this adaptation of Afghan American author, Khaled Hosseini’s novel by the same name.

The Kite Runner tells the tale of Amir – a young Afghan boy growing up in Afghanistan amidst tumultuous political events – the 1979 Russian invasion of Afghanistan, the mass exodus of Afghan citizens to places of refuge, namely Pakistan and the United States of America, and the genesis of the Taliban regime.

The story opens up to decades later- when Amir, having fled from Afghanistan with his father, following the 1979 Russian invasion, on the eve of a book tour of his novel, receives a phone call from a family friend, who asks him to return to his homeland in Afghanistan to help out the son of his childhood friend. 

The film is told in a series of flashbacks, tracing his childhood in Pakistan and the undying loyalty that bound these two friends together embodied in one of the most memorable quotes of the film : 

" For you, a thousand times over" 

This film had me cheering, sitting at the edge of my seat and metaphorically chewing my popcorn a little faster – in the metaphorical sense.  Everything about the film, from the actors, the cinematography, soundtrack and all those technical and artistic elements were great.

And what added to the authenticity of the film was that some of the actors were locals, despite most of the scenes being filmed outside Afghanistan (due to safety reasons). It is a beautiful piece of work and I would recommend this if you’re looking for a story of loyalty, friendship, betrayal, historical, actions, romance… heck, just watch it already!

Imani Dlamini

·         * Image : http://www.imdb.com/