The Kite Runner Movie (2007): Cast and Changes from the Book
Filmed in China, spoken mostly in Dari, and delayed to protect its child stars
The Kite Runner (2007) was directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by David Benioff. Khalid Abdalla plays the adult Amir, Homayoun Ershadi plays Baba, and Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada play the boys Amir and Hassan.
It was filmed mainly around Kashgar in western China, with most dialogue in Dari, and Alberto Iglesias's score was nominated for an Oscar.
How the film was made
Filming in Afghanistan was impossible, so the production recreated 1970s Kabul in and around Kashgar, in China's Xinjiang region near the Afghan border. The children were cast from schools in Kabul and were not professional actors. Most of the film is in Dari, with English for the American scenes, and adult actors who did not speak Dari had to learn their lines.
↑ Back to the topWhy was the release delayed?
The film was due out in November 2007. Its release was pushed back six weeks, to 14 December, because of fears for the safety of the young Afghan actors after the film's attack scene became public. The studio arranged for the boys and their families to leave Afghanistan and agreed to support them until adulthood. Hosseini and the filmmakers spoke publicly about the decision.
↑ Back to the topHow the film differs from the book
The film condenses a long novel into about two hours. The alley scene is shown with restraint, mostly through sound and Amir's reaction. Several story threads are trimmed. Amir and Soraya's difficulty having children, much of Baba's life in America and Sohrab's darkest moment after his rescue are cut or reduced, so the ending reaches the kite flying in California more quickly.
↑ Back to the topHow was it received?
Critics praised the child actors, especially Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada's Hassan, and Homayoun Ershadi's commanding Baba. Many felt the film was a faithful, moving version, while others missed the novel's depth. It earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and an Oscar nomination for its music.
↑ Back to the topThe 2007 cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Amir (adult) | Khalid Abdalla |
| Young Amir | Zekeria Ebrahimi |
| Young Hassan | Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada |
| Baba | Homayoun Ershadi |
| Rahim Khan | Shaun Toub |
| Soraya | Atossa Leoni |
| Farid | Saïd Taghmaoui |
| Sohrab | Ali Danish Bakhtyari |
| Ali | Nabi Tanha |
More about The Kite Runner
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