vernon film society
Bringing the best in world and Canadian film to film lovers of Vernon and the North Okanagan
THE KITE RUNNER
Director: Marc Forster
Narrators: Khalid Abdalla, Zekeria Ebrahimi, Homayoun Ershadi, Ahmad Mahmidzada
Run Time: 122 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Rating: 18A (Sexual violence, involving minors)
"...a compelling and uplifting tale that exposes the viewer to an unfamiliar, fascinating culture and a family dynamic that is recognizable and nuanced." - Claudia Puig, USA Today
Reviews: www.metacritic.com/film/titles/kiterunner
Marc Forster‘s Hollywood breakthrough came in 2001 with his acclaimed MONSTER‘S BALL. That film solidified his career and he has emerged as a versatile director capable of excelling in a diverse array of filmmaking genres within his films, from the fantastical, innovative biopic FINDING NEVERLAND, to the psycho-thriller STAY and, most recently, the sharp-witted and comically brilliant STRANGER THAN FICTION. Forster returns to the screen with a daring and eagerly awaited film adaptation of Khaled Hosseini‘s best-selling novel, The Kite Runner. Initially set in Afghanistan during the sixties, amid political and military turmoil, THE KITE RUNNER is an unforgettable story about loyalty and redemption, and a powerful exploration of father-son relationships.
The story begins with a young boy named Amir (Zekeria Ebrahimi) and his best friend – and the son of his servant – Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada). Amir struggles to succeed in his father‘s eyes and sets out to win his father‘s affection by competing in a kite-running tournament, in which participants with honed kite-battle skills seek to eliminate their foes by maneuvering their own kites – which have special strings, often even coated with glass – to slash the strings of others. When Amir wins, and his kite is the last in the sky, Hassan goes to retrieve the final downed kite as a trophy for his friend; however, tragedy ensues, setting off a chain reaction of life-changing events for both boys. Amir immigrates to the United States with his father, where he marries and becomes a success-ful writer. Unsettled by the tragic events of his childhood, Amir (now played by Khalid Abdalla) returns to Afghanistan when he is called upon to rescue Hassan‘s son from the Taliban front lines. Seeking to right the wrongs that have haunted him for so long, Amir hopes to rekindle a friendship that was an intricate tapestry of love, defeat, freedom and disgrace. THE KITE RUNNER is certain to woo critics and audiences alike. Forster‘s adaptation will appeal to fans of Hosseini‘s novel, intri-cately capturing the intensity and audacity of the celebrated original work, and will welcome newcomers with its universally poignant story and wonderful insights into a seldom-glimpsed facet of Afghani culture.
"How long has it been since you saw a movie that succeeds as pure story? That doesn't depend on stars, effects or genres, but simply fascinates you with how it will turn out?" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
