If you enjoyed reading The Kite Runner, you'll love the movie. I did--and I wasn't a big fan of the book -- because of its soap opera twist and odd voice as the protagonist grows older. Not only was The Kite Runner a beautifully shot film, but it was incredibly moving to see the scenes between the two boys played out. The filmmakers have found an outstanding talent in the boy who played Hassan, the forever-loyal servant and friend of Amir. I was surprised though that I had not noticed the importance of Hassan's "half-breed" background in the book. In the film at least, he is derided for being mixed, a member of the Hazara people who are native to the region but also believed to be of mixed Mongolian descent.
See also the movie because you will see real people in the middle of recent historical events. Remember, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan? Americans have registered that time as an inconvenient year to have had the Olympics (since we boycotted them to protest the invasion). The film gives you an insider view. And then beyond that, it was so amazing to have Afghanistan in my imagination today (although it seems that much of the film was shot in China) as a place where yes, people have suffered greatly through many wars and invasions, but it is also a place where people still have dreams and hopes. I'm giving a Mocha Baby Nod Award to the author and the filmmakers for bringing a wonderful international story of racial and cultural reconciliation to the big screen.
