The Kite Runner (2007)

"For you, a thousand times over."

Amir (Zekeria Ebrahimi) and Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) are children of Kabul, Afghanistan in 1978, the days prior to the Soviet invasion. They are best friends despite the fact that Amir's father/baba (Homayoun Ershadi) is a wealthy man while Hassan's father Ali (Nabi Tanha) is Baba's Hazara servant. Baba is very fond of Hassan.

Amir is educated while Hassan isn't, but Amir reads and tells stories to his friend Hassan and persues his dream of being a writer. While his Baba doesn't support his interest in being a writer, his father's best friend Rahim Khan (Shaun Toub) truly encourages the boy.

Together, the boys love to participate in competitive kite fighting and with Hassan's help, Amir wins the Kabul's biggest kite fighting contest of the year. Hassan immediately sets off to find the downed kite of Amir's competitor and Amir follows behind only to find Hassan being beaten and raped by bullies who have harassed Amir for his friendship with an Hazara.

Amir is not courageous enough to step forward to help his friend but instead hides until the bullies have left and Hassan stumbles out of the alleyway. His own guilt about his cowardice causes Amir to distance himself from Hassan and eventually tell a lie about Hassan which results in Ali and Hassan leaving the household.

The following year, with the Soviets looming near Kabal, Amir and his father escape because his father has been outspoken against the communists. The big house is left to be overseen by Rahim Khan. Amir doesn't see Hassan for a last time before departing.

Once in California (after a stay in Pakistan), Amir eventually graduates from community college (as an adult, Amir is played by Khalid Abdalla), much to the joy and pride of his father who is now reduced to employment as a convenience store clerk. The two work together on weekends to make extra money by selling at the flea market in San Jose, and Amir continues to write. It is at the flea market where Amir meets his future wife Soraya (Atossa Leoni), daughter of Afghan General Taheri (Qadir Farookh). Baba and the General arrange the marriage.

Later, Amir and Soraya nurse Baba through his final illness and then Amir sees publication of his first novel, dedicated to Rahim Khan who had always encouraged Amir's writing.

In 2000, Rahim Khan summons Amir to see him in Pakistan. Rahim Khan tells Amir "there is a way to be good again" and Amir is compelled to go.

What follows is Amir's hunt for Hassan's young son Sohrab (Ali Dinesh) in Afghanistan, now under control of the vicious Taliban. Amir is devastated by the condition of his homeland and is in danger of being discovered as someone from America.

This is a stunning film and a powerful reminder of the situation and conditions in Afghanistan. The young native actors who portrayed Amir and Hassan as children and as Hassan's son are tremendous and took an enormous risk by appearing in this film but are now safely living in the United Arab Emirates.

Directed by Marc Forster and based on a novel by Khaled Hosseini who also fled Kabul with his family as a child.

Rated PG-13 for strong thematic material including the implied rape of a child, violence and brief strong language.

My personal rating: A