Kite Runner

Occasionally I see a film at the cinema that I want to own on DVD. The Kite Runner is one of those films. Having read the novel a couple of years ago I went in eager anticipation to see how the cinema had treated this wonderful novel of love and redemption. From the start I was gripped by the story, set in Afghanistan, the magical kite flying scenes giving a little glimpse into a bright and colourful Kabul. These are contrasted later in the film with scenes of death and execution under the Taliban. The main thrust of the story lays in the relationship between two boys and their eventual separation under difficult circumstances. Many years later, Amir, the main character of the film, is given a chance to return to his native country and make amends for the past.

The film opens with the words 'things can be made good again', and as the story unfolds we are taken on a journey from pain and rejection to joy and acceptance. Hassan shows us how to suffer in silence but to stand up for ourselves when the time is right. Amir's quiet acceptance of the past and determination to learn from it and do the right thing brings the story to its moving conclusion. If you haven't yet seen it, I highly recommend this emotionally charged, thought provoking film.