“You see, General Sahib, my father slept with his servant’s wife, and she bore him a son named Hassan. Hassan is dead now. That boy sleeping in the other room is Hassan’s son. He’s my nephew. That’s what you tell people when they ask. And one more thing, General Sahib: you will never again refer to him as “a Hazara boy” in my presence. He has a name, and it’s Sohrab.”
-Amir, The Kite Runner
'I dream that my son will grow up to be a good person, a free person. I dream that someday you will return to revisit the land of our childhood. I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets again and kites will fly in the skies.'
-Hassan, in a letter to Amir
OMG, epic movie. I didn't think the movie would be as good as the book..but my, the movie was mindblowing and at times, I had to pause the movie to finish crying before watching the next scene. It was a such a poignant story and the way it was portrayed on-screen was really moving. Set against the tumultuous happenings in Afghanistan from the collapse of its monarchy to the Taliban regime, the story focuses on a friendship forged between two boys, Amir and Hassan. Hassan is the less fortunate one..he works as a servant at Amir's father's mansion and Amir and Hassan pretty much grow up together until an act of betrayal by Amir separates them..causing them to never see each other again. Amir didn't betray him intentionally..okay, actually he kinda did..but he didn't mean to. The extreme loyalty and love displayed by Hassan towards Amir kinda scared Amir..and it was a constant reminder of his cowardice and cowardly acts. I mean he didn't even do anything when he witnessed Hassan getting raped by a group of thugs just because Hassan was from a minority Hazara ethnic group. And when the Soviets occupy Afghanistan, Amir and his father move to Pakistan and eventually to the USA. Years later, after Amir has started embarking on a successful writing career where his first book had jus gotten published, he receives a call from a friend of his father's telling him to come back saying, 'There's a way to be good aqain.'
And Amir goes back to Pakistan and learns that Hassan is dead. Hassan had resumed the responsibility of caretaker of Amir's family's property in Afghanistan..and when the Taliban threatened to kill him if he didn't leave the property, they killed him and his wife..and took his son, Shorab. And Amir also learns that Hassan was in fact his half-brother as he was the child born from the extra marital affair his father had with his servant's wife. And so, Amir returns to Kabul, wearing a fake beard..and embarks on a journey to find where Sohrab is.
The movie really encapsulated how things had changed from before the Soviet occupation and the Taliban regime. And the extreme loyalty displayed by Hassan towards Amir is really heartbreaking..especially the way their friendship ended. And the letter Hassan left for Amir..which Amir reads some time after Hassan's death is beyond heartbreaking. And the scene where Sohrab tells Amir that he is glad that his parents aren't around anymore cause he's 'so dirty and full of sin' is really sad..I mean he was jus a kid! And he had been sexually harassed countless times and he was made to dress like a girl and perform for enlightenment. I mean..what did he do to deserve that? HE IS JUS A KID! And all of those experiences leave a deep mark in him..leaving him emotionally traumatised when Amir rescues him. And the last part where Amir tries to bond with Shorab by recollecting his childhood memories with Hassan was really touching. The fact that Amir brought back incidents from Hassan's childhood to Shorab finally made him smile a bit. And it was really sweet how Amir tried to teach Shorab some of Hassan's kite flying tricks. And pledges the same phrase that Hassan did to him years ago, 'For you, a thousand times over.'
WOW, Amazing. The book was truly heartbreaking and extremely moving. And the movie was amazing as well. But I think reading the book gives the reader an entirely different journey. I re-read the book yesterday after watching the movie...and the book's journey through all these events is more of Amir's journey to redemption as he searches for the best version of himself, within himself..and attempts to rectify the mistake that he had made years ago to damage an invaluable friendship. He had been living with traces of guilt and regret for years and his journey to redeem himself by rescuing his childhood friend's kid makes him find a way 'to be good again.'
Anyways, enough about Kite Runner. I feel damn useless..all I did over the weekend was to sit at home and rot. Rot meaning, watch movies and dramas. I managed to catch up with The Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill (Yes, I still watch OTH, but selectively)..and I have been watching quite bit of the old episodes from The O.C..and I GIVE UP WATCHING GREY'S ANATOMY. Okay, I wanted to stop when George died but I continued cause Alex/Izzie were still there. But the departure of Izzie..and the way they ended things between Alex and Izzie..was too sad and unbelievable and I almost stopped after that. I mean they portrayed Izzie as a poignant woman..a very emotional one indeed who is very sensitive to others' feelings. What she did to Alex..was too cruel and wasn't explained properly. I mean she left Alex even though he did NOTHING WRONG. Like wtf! But I continued watching and I loved the season 6 finale which was the shooting episode..especially the part where Alex calls out for Izzie and asks for her to come back again. But season 7..OMG..they broke up Mark/Lexie who were the only saving grace left..and Alex is having increasingly minor storylines..like wth! They didn't even show him dealing with Izzie's absence..I mean I bet he is aware of the fact that he still loves her (I mean she was the one he called out for when he was dying)..and they show him being pretty apathetic towards the whole incident. I mean they spent like maybe 2-3 scenes showing him deal with his fear of using the lift where was lying in a pool of blood. BUT THATS ABOUT IT. WTH? No sign of him even thinking back about the impact that Izzie still has on him or whatsoever. OMG. BRING IZZIE BACK. Or at least, bring Mark and Lexie back together. Till then, I am taking a break from Grey's.
Anyways, on a bigger note..CARLING CUP FINAL TONIGHT BETWEEN ARSENAL AND BIRMINGHAM CITY! I really want Arsenal to win! This could (and will) be start of the four trophies that they could possibly win by the end of the season. The Gunners are still very much in every competition and this is the first final that they gonna be playing. The Champs League second leg is coming up next week..and FA Cup replay in midweek..and with ManU bound to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool at Anfield, Chelsea at home and Arsenal at the Emirates..they WILL or at least, they are bound to drop more points and so ARSENAL CAN TAKE OVER THEM!! And eventually win the Premier League. MUAHAHA. Can't wait. It's gonna be a great season! COME ON ARSENAL!! <3
Okay, I shall watch No Strings Attached online now.
BUH-BYEE!
Victoria Concordia Crescit,
Labels: arsenal, grey's anatomy, nonsensical rantings, the kite runner
