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Maybe it's best to watch the DVD first and read the novel second, since the other reviewers say it doesn't measure up. This is a powerful, moving, compelling drama which makes excellent use of sly humor and which will stay with you long after you've finished watching it. Did you ever read a DVD cover blurb saying it's the greatest thing since sliced bread or some such nonsense, then pop it into your DVD player only to find it's average. That will NOT happen here. The other reviewers can tell you why better than I can, so I'll let them. I haven't read the novel, by the way, although I have read others by the author. It seems to me that's always how it is with great novels.
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2-They didn't last on the screen long enough to be read. . I understand the concept of bullies and evil, that art and movies should reflect negative aspects as well as positive ones.
Some times, people need to be shaken in order to wake up. The sad incident that happen to one of the two friends was actually performed by other kids. for example: an Afghani statement that meant God's willing was translated as inshallah which is the Arabic translation of the Islamic term: God's willing. Knowing how close this is to the truth should make us really admire this movie. Now, I'll move to my positive notes and they are actually many:.
3-worst of all , the subtitles had some Islamic words that aren't English as the English translation. Despite all my objections, I have to admit that this movie is very strong, powerful, and shocking. 1-They were light with a light back ground. Of course, a lot of attention was given in previous movies to sexual predators and evil killers, but the idea of kids inflicting sexual pain at the attacked target (whether it's another child or an animal or any being) is still beyond me. With a character that is so wise, truthful, and manly, I just find it hard to believe that he would leave Hassan behind and take only Amir. The movie tells the story of a childhood friendship in Afghanistan that is interrupted by a sad incident and explores the possibility of redemption and the correction of past mistakes.
Granted, flaws should be over looked in great works like this movie, so for the great purpose of showing the Taliban's cruelty and immersing the viewer in the Afghani culture, a few plot contradictions must be forgiven. 1-I was drawn to continue watching the movie because with the development of the story, one can actually understand the corrupted character of the offensive bully involved in the rape incident, and the child hood incident becomes more convincing as we come to know the perpetrator. My initial problem with the story is not the idea of fear or occasional cowardliness or the possibility of redemption, but that the incident that inflicted such immense pain on one of the children is too graphic and cruel. I think the reason movie directors do this far more now than in the past is because we have become immune to simple shocks and subtle implied barbarity. 3-Most scenes of the Afghani emigrants were so touching and powerful in showing how all cultures are similar in some ways. The scenery and direction of the movie are fascinating, aside from the extremely annoying subtitles which detracted from my enjoyment of the movie:.
The stoning scene, the child abuse, using religion to manipulate people's minds, covering up women in a humiliating way and depriving them from education are all a dictatorship's way of controlling people. Aren't subtitles intended to translate to a language the viewer understands. Religions shouldn't be blamed for the bad actions of people, only people should be blamed for their bad actions. If one can't handle the truth, they should go to the circus instead of watching such a movie.
I admittedly confess that cruelty against children upsets me deeply, so I have to accept that scenes of brutality are needed to show the extent of the humiliation and savagery. I'm still shocked and drained emotionally over the experience of watching "The Kite Runner", but such is life. 4-The scenes in Afghanistan and the scenes of Taliban's cruelty were as close to the truth as possible. 2-The actors were great, especially the father (Homayoun Ershadi), but his character seemed to be in conflict with the secret that was revealed later in the story.
I can also understand the sexual feelings and curiosities that children might experience and I will understand if a movie focuses on that, but my problem was watching the sexual pain and humiliation inflicted on one child by another child. I really hope that the viewers of this movie can be mature enough to separate the actions and beliefs. I will try to be more open minded and focus on the moral issues and the idea of justice and redemption. So how about the brilliant idea of writing God's willing instead of Inshallah.
Finally, that mistake was fixed and later in the movie, Arabic and different Afghani words were actually translated into English. Showing the actions of this corrupted government was truly brave. The actual prayers in Arabic, the wedding scene, and the father in the bar made me cry and smile at the same time. 5-Finally, two powerful scenes that I can't get out of my head: the scene of the sexually abused child on the stairs talking about his feelings about the abuse, and the scene were the orphanage director was describing how he would give one child to be abused in order to have other kids saved.
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