Afghanistan Political Map

Afghanistan Elevation Map

Kite Runner Flies Into Controversy BBC News

Map of Ethnic Groups in Afghanistan National Geographic

Kids in Afghanistan Scholastic News

Starting with the success of the protagonist’s, Amir, first published piece of literature, the movie ultimately tells the story of the tight bond he shared with Hassan, his close friend who he later learns is his brother. As a child, Amir knew Hassan as a family servant. Growing up in Kabul, both valued a connection far beyond what most Americans define as “true;” Hassan showing much care for Amir. The film portrays the social status of the two Afghan tribes to which Amir and Hassan belong: Amir is Pashtun and Hassan is Hazara. Because Hassan was from a minority people, he serves Amir’s family and is frequently picked on.

The movie, detailing the crumbling of a stable Afghanistan, reveals sequential events from the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1979 to the rule of the Taliban regime beginning in 1996. The antagonist, Assef, a Pashtun and future member of the Taliban regime, bullies Amir and rapes Hassan. Haunted by his cowardice in the face of these events, Amir’s life is changed permanently. Hassan leaves Amir’s house and, due to the Soviet invasion, Amir and his father are forced to leave their elaborate home, traveling to Pakistan and later settling in America.

In the first scene of the movie, Amir receives a phone call from his uncle, realizing that he must rescue Hassan’s orphaned son in order to do right and pick up where he left off. With the guilt of not protecting or defending Hassan, Amir discovers the meaning of his past memories. Ultimately, Amir succeeds, and the movie ends on a positive note.

Following the film was a discussion between Zolaykha Sherzad, founder of the nonprofit organization School of Hope; Dan Harris, anchor of World News Sunday on ABC News; and Ahmad Nader Nadery, Commissioner of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. Moderated by Nermeen Shaikh, an Asia Society representative and author, the panel discussion touched on many sensitive topics.

“The film was quite strong.... It really represented for me my childhood, what Afghanistan was in terms of a normal life within the experiences that you go through as a child, as an innocent,” stated Zolaykha Sherzad.

Nadery added, “Afghans are not crazy, tribal people.” He went on to say that The Kite Runner showed Afghanistan’s rich culture, however the dialogue was politically sensitive.

Expectedly, the panel elaborated on the film’s controversies: the rape and war scenes. Showing the great autonomy the Taliban obtained, the war scenes reflect political tensions that still exist in Afghanistan. “The Taliban came to power because of a power vacuum, because people were thirsting for some sort of rule of law.... And what we’re seeing is history repeating itself,” explained Harris.

“People [in Afghanistan] are slowly losing the level of confidence and optimism that they had for the government and the international community together. They see that their lives are not changing as they were expecting,” explained Nadery.
The rape scene stands as a shameful occurrence for the two actors, even though it was fictional, because Hassan is raped by a Pashtun precisely because he is a Hazara. Off the screen, the scene has the potential to enflame ethnic tensions that already exist between the two groups. The Afghan children who played the roles of Amir and Hassan may eventually have to leave home. If the movie indeed stirs up violence and anger, the boys will have to emigrate for their own safety.       

Copyright 2007