The Kite Runner Film Review

With a fairly accurate adaptation of the novel, The Kite Runner, the film gives an raw and gritty insight into the cruel world of Afghanistan in the 1970's and present day. The Kite Runner plays on the heartstrings of the audience by taking us through a roller-coaster ride that is Amir's (Khalid Abdalla and Zekiria Ebrahimi) life. With themes of rape, cowardice, revenge and atonement, we can see from this that the film throws us up and pulls us down with each scene.


The main plot of the film is surrounded around Amir's younger self and his attempt to make amends for what he failed to do in his childhood, stand up for himself. When his childhood best friend, Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mamoodzada) faces the enemy of their youth Assef (Elham Ehsas) after the Kabul kite fighting tournament, which Hassan and Amir win. This seemingly immature case of bullying and discrimination against the Hazara, forms a black cloud over not only the victory but 's Amir's whole life. Assef's rape of Hassan and Amir's lack of courage symbolises the lives of the Afghani people during the reign of the Taliban, as they are controlled by a powerful force who see themselves as patriots, but in turn hurt the people in their country. For example, Assef, as a Paschtun, wants to purify his country despite the benign threat from the Hazaras, therefore having a very one sided view, a lot like the Taliban. 

Not long after that fateful day, Amir moves away to America, leaving his old friend behind just as the ominous spectre of war turns tragically tangible. Later in Amir's life, Rahim Khan (Shaun Toub) contacts him giving him the chance to redeem himself after his cowardice towards Hassan's ordeal with Assef. In order to find out what needs to be done, Amir travels to Pakistan to see Rahim Khan. Amir is told about the death of Hassan and the existence of Hassan's son in an orphanage in Kabul. However, Amir is made aware of the relationship between Baba (Homayoun Ershadi) and Hassan, reaching the realisation that in fact Hassan and Amir possess the same father, making them half-brothers. Rahim Khan gives Amir the mission to go and retrieve Sohrab, Amir's nephew who is fittingly named after Amir and Hassan's favourite story.

Amir returns to Afghanistan to find his beloved homeland has now fallen under the iron-fisted rule of the Taliban. In order to give Hassan back the courage and bravery he showed for Amir during their childhood, Amir embarks on a journey through Taliban lands to reach his ultimate goal, to bring Sohrab back to America where he can experience the freedom he deserves.

Personally, I believe that the film is very sentimental and touches your emotions in a way that many films fail to achieve. Although the action we see in the film is not the most thrilling, it does enough to get the audience on the edge of their seats and engages us not only in what we see in front of us but the lives of Amir, Hassan and Sohrab. The twists in the story boost the complexity of the plot even further, for example when it is revealed that one of the highest ranking Taliban official is Assef creates a sense of irony as certain events get repeated from the earlier life of Amir and this constantly reminds us of how Amir has transformed in character throughout the film.

Overall I would give The Kite Runner a 4 out of 5 as it satisfies many elements that a good film should contain but I would not call it an epic. However, it is a definite watch and a very exciting read.