I'D WATCH IT "A THOUSAND TIMES OVER"

The Kite Runner is set in Kabul, Afghanistan and parts of it, in America. And so the film is in two languages. 

The movie opens in San Francisco, California, with kites in the skies. We see our lead Amir finding a box in front of his apartment. Inside the box is his masterpiece – his stories, his book. Amir then receives a phone call from Rahim Khan.

The film suddenly enters a flashback, again with kites in the sky. We see a few kids playing with the kites. The flashbacks were of Amir as a young boy, with his best friend Hassan. Hassan was Amir’s family servant’s son, and also his best friend. However, they had different statuses.

Nevertheless, Amir’s father loves Hassan and Hassan’s father, Ali, a lot. In fact, even more than Amir because he felt that Amir was too timid. However, Amir is more educated and loves to write stories, which to his father, is a total waste of time. Perhaps the only people who enjoyed Amir's story and supported him was his father’s best friend, Rahim Khan (the caller at the beginning of the film) and Amir's best friend, Hassan. Amir always reads his stories to Hassan and that’s what they both enjoy doing together.

They have this very popular kite competition in Afghanistan in which you fly your kites in the sky and you cut down as many kites as you can with your kite's string. If you are the last kite standing, you win. Hassan was the best kite runner and together, he and Amir won the competition. So after you cut the last kite in the sky, the kite runner would run and catch the falling kite and then pass it to the kite 'flyer' as souvenir. 

Hassan, after getting the kite, was blocked by the village bully and was to handover the kite. For disobeying the orders, Hassan was beaten up and also sodomised. Amir saw everything but did nothing to help his friend Hassan, who had always stood up for him. I can't tell you how much watching that scene pissed me off.

Amir also did not mention anything to his father and neither did Hassan. Hassan just became quieter and though Amir knew the reason and truth, Amir told no one about it. In fact, he wanted to get rid of Hassan. He tried many ways to kick Hassan out of his house. He accused Hassan of stealing his watch and because Hassan knew that Amir wanted him out, he admitted. Though Amir’s father forgave Hassan and asked them to stay, Hassan’s father, Ali said they are embarrassed to stay. From that day onwards, Amir never saw his friend again.

Later, Afghanistan was at war and Amir fled to America with his dad. Twenty years passed, and we see a grown-up Amir. He got married and his dad passed away. The story then continues from where the flashback began – when Amir was on the phone with Rahim Khan.

Rahim Khan told Amir about the death of Hassan and his wife. They had refuse to listen to the militant’s order. Hassan had a son, who is now in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rahim also told Amir a secret about Hassan. Let’s keep the secret a secret. Maybe you should watch the movie to find out.

Amir was at first, afraid to go to Afghanistan because of the Talibans. But after he read a touching letter written by Hassan to him (Hassan had learned how to write for him) he changes his mind. For the first time, you see a little courage from Amir. At least he went all out for his best friend’s boy this time and in the end, brought the boy to America and gave him a good life. I think Amir owes Hassan that much.

The most touching part in the movie? 

Hassan told Amir, “Do you want me to run the kite for you? For you, a thousand times over…” 

And when Amir repeated it to Hassan’s son at the end of the movie, it got me.

Hassan

Perhaps I could be overly critical about Amir's cowardice but I know one thing, if my best friend were beaten up or bullied, I won’t just sit there and watch. Even if I can’t fight the bullies myself, I’ll get help. It's safe to say that I am not a fan of Amir and if you ask me, The Kite Runner isn't about Amir; it's about Hassan.

It's about a friend who stood up for another friend. It's about bravery and integrity. Hassan is also the character who carried the movie forward. His character developed Amir's character and inspired us.

The Muslim culture 

The film also gives us an insight of the Muslim culture in Afghanistan and the Taliban laws, which can be unconventional.

The Kite Runner is based on a popular novel of the same title by Khaled Hosseini and the movie is a must watch because unlike some movies that totally failed in their screen adaptation, this one succeeded in being just as good. 

p/s: I do not agree with the trailer. War did not tear them apart. Amir's cowardice did.