The Kite Runner (2007)
Actors:
Walter F. Parkes (producer),
Tim Halpin (actor),
Tim Halpin (miscellaneous crew),
Daniel Villagomez (miscellaneous crew),
Laura Sevier (miscellaneous crew),
Mike Lane (miscellaneous crew),
Alberto Iglesias (composer),
Saïd Taghmaoui (actor),
Cassandra Barbour (miscellaneous crew),
John de Lancie (actor),
Sam Mendes (producer),
Douglas Dresser (miscellaneous crew),
Sidney Kimmel (producer),
Larry Kitagawa (actor),
Jeff Skoll (producer),
Plot: In the 70's in Afghanistan, the Pushtun boy Amir and the Hazara boy Hassan, who is his loyal friend and son of their Hazara servant Ali, are raised together in Amir's father house, playing and kitting on the streets of a peaceful Kabul. Amir feels that his wise and good father Baba blames him for the death of his mother in the delivery, and also that his father loves and prefers Hassan to him. In return, Amir feels a great respect for his father's best friend Rahim Khan, who supports his intention to become a writer. After Amir winning a competition of kitting, Hassan runs to bring a kite to Amir, but he is beaten and raped by the brutal Assef in an empty street to protect Amir's kite; the coward Amir witness the assault but does not help the loyal Hassam. On the day after his birthday party, Amir hides his new watch in Hassam's bed to frame the boy as a thief and force his father to fire Ali, releasing his conscience from recalling his cowardice and betrayal. In 1979, the Russians invade Afghanistan and Baba and Amir escape to Pakistan. In 1988, they have a simple life in Fremont, California, when Amir graduates in a public college for the pride and joy of Baba. Later Amir meets his countrywoman Soraya and they get married. In 2000, after the death of Baba, Amir is a famous novelist and receives a phone call from the terminal Rahim Khan, who discloses secrets about his family, forcing Amir to return to Peshawar, in Pakistan, in a journey of redemption.
Keywords: 1970s, 1980s, 2000s, abuse, afghan, afghanistan, airport, audio-flashback, aunt-nephew-relationship, author
Genres:
Drama,
Taglines: There is a way to be good again.
Quotes:
Baba: Fuck the Russia!
Young Hassan: For you, a thousand times over
Baba: There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft... When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.
Baba: [regarding the mullahs, who teach that drinking alcohol is a sin] I piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys.
Amir: [explaining Sohrab's presence] You see, General Sahib, my father slept with his servant's wife, and she bore him a son named Hassan. Hassan is dead now. That boy sleeping in the other room is Hassan's son. He's my nephew. That's what you tell people when they ask. And one more thing, General Sahib: you will never again refer to him as "a Hazara boy" in my presence. He has a name, and it's Sohrab.
Baba: [as Dr. Starobin examines him] Where are you from?::Dr. Starobin: I grew up in Michigan. Came out here for medical school. Once you get used to that California sunshine...::Baba: But your family?::Dr. Starobin: My family? We're originally from Russia. [Baba shoves him away, and is next seen with a different doctor]
Baba: The Mullahs want to rule our souls... and the Communists tell us we don't have any.