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"Son, You Must Quit
Flying Your Kite In
Taliban Park" |
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Directed by Marc Forster
- Written by David
Benioff
Starring Khalid Abdalla,
Homayon Ershadi, Zekeria
Ebrahimi
Distributed by Paramount
Vantage - 2007 - 122mins - Rated
PG-13 |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B+ |
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A film that transcends its controversy... |
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Unless
you are familiar with Khaled Hosseini's 2003 best selling novel of
the same name, odds are that you are most familiar with "The Kite
Runner" due to the widely publicized controversy surrounding its
delayed release.
The film, directed by Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland" and
"Monster's Ball"), was delayed by Paramount Classics after it became
public knowledge that a rape scene involving one of the two young
boys in the cast had stirred some degree of outrage in the film's
setting of Afghanistan. Out of concern for the boy's safety, "The
Kite Runner" has had its release delayed six weeks until December
14th to allow the young boy to finish the school year and, perhaps,
to come to the United States.
This unexpected controversy, at least as Forster would explain it,
has created a greater awareness about "The Kite Runner," a difficult
to market film utilizing an all Mid-Eastern cast and consistent use
of subtitles throughout the film when the characters speak in the
Dari dialect.
"The Kite Runner" begins in San Francisco in 2000 by introducing us
to the adult Amir (Khalid Abdalla), whose pre-Taliban Kabul
childhood is the focus of much of the film.
We quickly travel back to 1978 Afghanistan, where a young Amir (Zekiria
Ebrahimi) lives with his rebellious widowed father (Homayoun Ershadi).
His best friend and servant Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada) is one
of Kabul's most famous kite runners, and the two boys spend most of
their days playing with each other and entering city kite-running
tournaments. Hassan, a member of the minority trible in Afghanistan,
is attacked and raped one day by a group of boys from the majority
tribe who are jealous of Hassan and his kite-running. Amir, much to
his own shame, does not intervene and Hassan himself does not reveal
the attack.
Eventually, Amir and his father end up in the United States and we
flash forward again to an adult Amir receiving a telephone call from
Hassan stating "You should come home. There is a way to be good
again."
The story that follows is one of an adult trying to make right the
overwhelming wrong he committed as a child.
As Roger Ebert pointed out, "The Kite Runner" is equal to Forster's
"Monster's Ball" in its emotional impact. While the film also
carries the remarkable beauty of Forster's Oscar-nominated "Finding
Neverland," the film's true power lies in the emotional depth of the
characters and the barebones way in which Forster presents a
post-Taliban Afghanistan that is suspenseful and menacing but never
completely devoid of the innocence and wonder from the boy's past.
Fans of Hosseini's novel are likely to be a tad disappointed as,
could be expected, David Benioff's screenplay reduces the novel to
its major themes while merely glossing over so many of the fine
details that left Hosseini's readers captivated by the book.
The kite flying and running is, indeed, rather magical throughout
the film, though it is just a touch over-utilized for its overt
symbolism in the lives of the young boys.
Mahmoodzada, the young boy for whom the film's U.S. release has been
delayed, is quite remarkable as Hassan. Mahmoodzada's natural
presence comfortable silence lends an almost grievous aura to his
character that becomes overwhelming at times. Ebrahimi, as well,
beautifully encapsulates the region's class differences and the two
boys together share a remarkable chemistry.
Abdalla shines as the adult Amir, only faltering on those occasions
when the script, much like Hosseini's novel, lacks believability.
Similarly, Ershadi shines as Amir's father and Shaun Toub adds a
tremendous spark as Rahim Khan.
The production design for "The Kite Runner" is quite stunning,
though there are times that the kite-running itself is obviously
digital effects. This obvious visual weakness detracts from the
film's authenticity, while Alberto Iglesias' intrusive score
occasionally pushes the film into unnecessary histrionics.
"The Kite Runner" was the closing night screening for the 2007
Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, and played to two sold-out
audiences who were obviously deeply moved by the experience as
person after person was seen wiping away tears as they left the
theatre.
While the widely publicized child rape in the film cannot and should
not be dismissed, it's important to note that the scene itself is
far from graphic and "The Kite Runner" maintained its PG-13 rating
despite the inclusion of the scene. While such a scene would be
challenging to explain to younger audience members, such a scene
could easily open the door to discussions about cultural
understanding, violence, friendship and, perhaps, even bullying.
While "The Kite Runner" is unlikely to make my Top 10 List for 2007,
it is easily one of 2007's most inspiring and rewarding cinematic
experiences. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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TC Candler's Comment
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