Fridae

When Afghan-born novelist Khaled Hosseini published his first novel The Kite Runner in 2003, no one expected it to sell millions and touch the lives of so many people. But the story of a friendship that spans 22 years struck an unexpected chord among readers from Japan to India to Africa, turning it a bona fide worldwide bestseller.

Now it's been made into a beautiful movie by Marc Foster (Finding Neverland). And although it is not quite as vivid and haunting as the book, it is still a notable achievement in filmmaking that deserves to be seen and appreciated.

Beginning in Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion, the story centres on Amir the privileged son of an intellectual, and Hassan the servant boy. Neglected by his father, Amir turns to Hassan for companionship and emotional support. The boys spend many lazy days together, indulging in their favorite pastime � kite-fighting.

Then one day, an older bully catches Hassan and rapes the poor boy. Too scared to do anything, Amir hides in the shadows and watches helplessly as the excruciating event unfolds. Consequently, Amir feels so guilt-ridden over his own inaction that he stops being best friends with Hassan. When the Russians invade their city, Amir's family pack up and flee to America, leaving Hassan and his family behind.

But over the next two decades, Amir could never forget his double betrayal of his best friend and quietly hopes for a chance to make it right...

Nominated for numerous awards including an Oscar for Best Score, The Kite Runner is a touching tale of friendship that's very well told. Rarely has Hollywood invested time, effort and money into telling non-Western stories, but we're glad they took a chance in this one. Although the box-office performance for this film has not been good, you should not partake in the general audience's indifference. If you're a true connoisseur of cinema, this is the must-see of the week along with Away From Her.