The Kite Runner

[Albereth]

This is a really good movie that spans a time period of 22 years. It is set in Afghanistan just prior to the russian invasion and ends while the taliban are still in control. It isn't about the war, that just serves as a back drop.

The movie is beautiful in the scenes. The acting is sublime but you'll spend a lot of time reading. But you'll stop noticing that pretty quickly as the story is really engrossing.

The book upon which it is based sold some 5M copies but I can't comment about whether it has translated well to the screen as I haven't read it. Yet. Trip to Exclusive to be planned.

The story is about two young boys who separate while young for reasons that you'll see in the movie. Years later the one returns from America to Afghanistan to looks for family roots.

What is a Kite Runner? In the movie they have kite battles - you use your kite to cut the string on the other guy's kite. His kite falls to the ground and the runner runs off to claim it as a prize. But that is also a metaphor for family lines that have been cut and the race to catch someone who is falling before they are lost.

See it.

[Flatty]

They have had to relocate the two boys who did this movie with their families to a secret location in the UAE. There are concerns for their safety as a result of this movie. Paramount Studios will pay for their education until they are 18 years of age.

Kite flying is a popular sport in Afghanistan.

I would like to see the movie too.

[Albereth]

Man that is so whack - you think they want to kill the dude who played the taliban guy. Puts them in a bad light - not that they need help.

[Flatty]

Man that is so whack - you think they want to kill the dude who played the taliban guy. Puts them in a bad light - not that they need help.

I am perpetually amazed at the depths of human stupidity, although at my age I should not really be surprised by anything.

I find the problem is compounded in communities where education levels are poor & superstitions run rife (said superstitions being as a result of the poor education).

This is why I give this country (S.A.) a less than 5% chance of survival. We are trying to move a massively uneducated 3rd world population into the first world without the benefits of afore-mentioned education.

Castro had it right - he ruled his people with an iron fist for this very reason & we have some of the best doctors in the world coming out of Cuba. You cannot give an uneducated mass too much freedom as they do not have the tools to deal with that freedom.

[doobiwan]

My wife read the book (which means by proxy I've heard the entire story) and it's very sad.

Flatspin, the thing that scares me the most is the lack of will and action the government has shown in really making a difference in education. Keeping the populous ignorant and indoctrinating them with this new school pledge has very sinister overtones. For me it's one of just too many things. I just hope we can get out before it all goes to ****.

[Albereth]

Picked up a copy yesterday. Robyn was going to read it but I said that you said that your wife said that it was sad. Now I get to read it first.