Guilt And Redemption In Marc Forster's The Kite Runner

Marc Forster’s The Kite Runner is a 2007 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Khalid Hosseini. Marc Forster is Film Director, screenwriter and producer. Of the several films directed by Forster, his breakthrough film; Monsters Ball (2001), received several oscar nominations including Best Picture.

The Kite Runner beautifully depicts the friendship between Amir and Hassan, and portrays the raw turning point in their friendship which will forever change the both of them. The theme of guilt and redemption is strongly evident throughout the film and in the end, the kite not only serves as a symbol of friendship but that of triumph.

The opening scene shows two boys flying kites. Kite running was an ancient Afghan hobby

The man is Amir and the caller is Rahim Khan; an old friend. Rahim is calling to ask Amir to come home and Amir’s sigh says it all. It’s as if he has been dreading this call for a long time, and this provides our first glimpse at what may be troubling Amir. Rahim says “There’s a way to be good again” which triggers Amir to reflect back on his younger days and he lapses back to 1978 in the city of Kabul. You ought to wonder what Rahim meant. Does he know what troubles Amir? Is he part of the problem or is he someone who will help Amir? While this scene provokes you to wonder what he meant, I wish more insight was provided. As two kites are flying in the sky, we meet a younger version of Amir and his friend Hassan. Hassan is the best kite runner in the neighborhood and knows exactly where the kite will fall from the

This scene was important to show as it brings their relationship full circle and we know Rahim had been the driving force behind Amir’s dream. Rahim provides a glimpse into Hassan’s life after he left and we learn Hassan was killed by the Taliban. We also learn the shocking truth that Hassan was Amir’s brother and Rahim presents Amir a way to redeem himself by finding Hassan’s son, Sohrab and taking him back to America. This explains why Baba treated Hassan like a son, but left me confused why it was briefly mentioned. Baba is portrayed as a strong character, however in truth he is no different from his son. I also was left wondering what Rahim’s previous statement about being good meant. Is that statement based on Baba’s secret or did he somehow know Amirs. Without a clear explanation, I’d like to think it was both. Either way it provides Amir an opportunity to lift the heavy weight he has carried for so long and face the choice he made long ago. Amir begins by telling his wife and decides to find Sohrab. While I can appreciate the tough choices a director must draw on, I feel like a scene should have been added here so we could witness Amir finally admit to what he saw and how that made him feel. Part of redemption is owning your mistakes and the raw emotion that comes along with