DVD Review: The Kite Runner

 

The Kite Runner is a moving, sincere piece of art. Despite that, most audiences might not have even noticed that it went through the theaters like a desert breeze. It’s made a modest showing internationally, and pulled in $15.4 million in its limited US release. Critics, however, remained mixed, although most of the negative reviews placed the film up against the poetic genius of its source material – the best selling novel by Khaled Hosseini.

With all the hype surrounding the book and the excitement of it coming to the screen via director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Stranger Than Fiction), the DVD release may come as a surprise for those who looked for it on their local marquee and never found it. It also comes as good news.

After spending most of his life in California, Amir (Khalid Abdalla) is forced to reconcile with his past in Afghanistan in order to prove loyalty to his childhood friend Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada). The film chronicles their early years dealing with the brutality of bullies, the infiltration of the Soviets that force the two friends apart, and life in the United States where Amir finds love and normalcy.

Characterized by sweeping shots and brilliant performances by young actors Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada and Zekeria Ebrahimi, the movie plays well, of course, on the small screen. The intense shots of kites swooping and diving through the heights of the Afghani countryside lose none of their luster, and the rest of the film is made for an intimate setting.

The DVD has the standard video and sound settings. Unfortunately, beyond the film, it’s lacking in special features. It has commentary from the director, the author of the novel, and the screenwriter, as well as a beautifully done segment featuring words from the novel and art renderings from the film.

Despite a lack in featurettes, the real joy of owning this DVD is for the film itself. It’s an incredible drama that captures a fragile culture in the throes of upheaval as it mirrors the friendship of two young boys.

 

《追风筝的人》是一部感人的、真挚的艺术作品。除此之外，大多数的观众可能没有注意到它像一阵沙漠之风般席卷了影院。它低调地引起了来自各国的关注，光是在美国的有限发行就赚取了1540万美元。然而评论家们看法不一，虽然大多数的负面评论都把电影拿来与它的如诗般的原著—卡勒德·胡塞尼的畅销书作比较。
带着对原著的高度关注和对导演马克·福斯特将其搬上大荧幕的兴奋期待，DVD 的发行对那些想在自己本土观看这部电影却又找不到片子的观众来说是一个惊喜，也是一个好消息。
在加利福尼亚度过一大半人生之后，阿米尔被迫重新去寻找他在阿富汗的过去，以此来证明他对他的童年伙伴哈山的忠诚。这部电影用倒叙的方式一一讲述了他们童年时和野蛮的暴力作斗争、苏联的入侵迫使两个伙伴分离、以及阿米尔此后在美国的生活，在美国阿米尔找到了真爱和自我。
有着令人惊叹的电影镜头和两位年轻演员Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada和Zekeria Ebrahim精湛的表演，这部电影在小荧幕上也能表现出色。那些风筝俯冲和划破阿富汗乡村长空的惊险镜头十分出彩，电影的余下部分制造着一种温馨的氛围。
DVD有着合乎标准的视频和音响效果。令人遗憾的是，除了电影，它缺少特别收录。它有来自导演、小说作者和剧本作者评论，以及一段制作精良的来自小说的旁白和来自电影的艺术美感。
虽然缺少特别收录的短片，但是拥有这部电影的DVD的乐趣在电影本身。这是一部令人难以置信的的电影，有着一种令人内心疼痛的脆弱美感，因为它反应了两个小男孩的真挚友谊。