Movie Comprehension
The Kite Runner
Movie Comprehension Guide
Discussion Questions
Themes: Individually relate 4 topics discussed in class before and/or after the movie to the movie itself. Answer how each one of these topics was represented in the movie.
· Friendship: The relationship between Amir and Hassan. The friendship was between a rich kid and his servant. In the friendship they were equal at times, but sometimes Amir treated Hassan poorly.
· War: The USSR invades Afghanistan. As a result of this invasion, Afghans lose their freedom and experience the destruction of their environment. After the Russian leave, the Taliban takes over the government and abuses the rights of Afghan citizens.
· Kite Flying: At this time in Afghanistan, kite flying is a form of competition. There are two roles on each kite flying team. One person controls the kite, and the other person lets the string out. After the opponents kite is cut, one of the teammates will run to retrieve the kite. This person is known as the kite runner. Amir is the person who controls the kite, and Hassan lets the string out and is the kite runner. Amir wants to win the competition, so his father will be proud of him. Hassan wants to run the kite to show his love and friendship for Amir. At the end of the movie, Amir runs to retrieve the kite for Hassan’s son.
· Separation: Amir is separated from Hassan. Baba is separated from the movie using two or three sentences.
Characters: Individually describe the following characters from the movie using two or three sentences.
Amir: Amir is a boy who lives in Pakistan, he is Hassan's half-brother. Amir does not learn of their relationship until much later in his life.
Hassan: a childhood friend of Amir, there is very close friends. Hassan is first thought to be the son of Ali. He died without ever knowing about the truth of his paternity.
Baba: The father of Amir and Hassan, he helping many other people establish businesses for themselves and constructing an orphanage.
Ali: Baba childhood friend, He is initially thought to be the father of Hassan.
Soraya: an Afghan woman, Amir Wife.
Rahim Kahn: Baba's business partner and best friend in Afghanistan, later he was the one who tells Amir about Hassan's actual father. He reads Amir’s stories and encourages Amir to become author
General: He is soraya father
Sohrab: son of Hassan, he was raped by Assef; Rahim Khan contacts Amir Attempt to get him to come back to Afghanistan.
Assef: teenager from Amir's neighborhood in Kabul. Assef is the antagonist or the bully/bad guy.
Setting: Individually write a few sentences describing each of the following topics. Think about how they were displayed in the movie.
· Afghanistan before the Russians
Before the Russians came to Afghanistan, the place was peaceful and happiness. There was a servant country. During that time, they fly kite, watch movie, party, and read a book under the beautiful tree.
· American Afghanistan Community
At the time that American Afghanistan Community, they have a freedom to do.
· Afghanistan after the Russians and during the Taliban war, kill
In the Afghanistan, after the Russians and during the Taliban war was terrible. They force, death, and destroy.
Movie Review Questions: Answer the following groups of questions you are assigned. Be prepared to present the answers to the class. Also be prepared to add answers to the questions that were not assigned to you.
Part A
1. What do you think of Hassan and Amir’s friendship?
· They are very close friendship and strongly relationship.
2. At any time in the movie, did you think that Hassan and Amir were brothers? What were the clues? Were you surprised when you found out?
· In the movie, I did recognize that Hass and Amir was brother, but Baba took Hassan to buy a new kite for his birthday and Baba for give Hassan when his was stole the watch.
3. At the beginning of the moving, how did Hassan stand up for Amir?
· Hassan protect Amir from Assef
4. Amir overhears Baba say that he is disappointed that Amir doesn’t stand up for himself more. How would you feel if you were Hassan?
· I felt sad that father say bad thing to me.
5. Does Amir stand up for Hassan later in the film? In what ways?
· He never stands up for Hassan, but the end of the movie Amir stand up for Hassan’s son.
6. Why do you think Hassan is assaulted physically and sexually by the other boys?
· Assef was jealous of Hassan, even he was servant and Hasara but he is good at kite runner and he have rich friend.
7. What do you think Amir should have done when he saw the boys assaulting Hassan?
· He should find someone to help Hassan.
Part B
1. Why did Amir throw the fruit at Hassan? What did you think about Hassan’s reaction? Why did he smear the fruit in his face?
· Amir wants Hassan to hurt him and fight the bad guy. Hassan wants to show that he will never hurt Amir.
2. Why did Baba react negatively to Amir asking if they could get new servants? Why did Amir ask this question?
· Because he knows that Hassan was is son, so he doesn’t want him to leave.
3. What do you think a Baba’s comment “You bring me shame” meant?
· He doesn’t want Hassan to leave, because he is his son.
4. Why do you think that Amir framed Hassan for stealing his watch? Why did Hassan admit responsibility for it, when he didn’t do it?
· Because he want Hassan to stay away from him because he want to protect Hassan and he doesn’t want Hassan to get trouble because of him.
5. Do you think Baba is an honorable and ethical man? Why or why not? What was your opinion of him before he stood up to the soldier who wanted to have sex with the new mother? What about after you found out he slept with the wife of his servant and was Hassan’s father?
· I think he have responsibility and brave to help the woman from the solider. after I found out he slept with the wife of his servant and was Hassan’s father, I felt surprise and disappointing.
6. Why do you think Hassan and his father left?
· They know that Amir don’t want them to stay, so they felt better if they leave.
Part C
1. Why did Soraya’s father, the General, throw away Amir’s story?
· I think he don’t want Amir to close with his daughter because it not polite to talk in publish, because they are not marriage yet.
2. What did you think of the conditions of the orphanage that Hassan’s son had been at?
· The condition of the orphanage that Hassan’s son had been at was very bad, dirty, not enough foot and water, and no money.
3. The director of the orphanage admits that he has to sell kids to the Taliban in order to keep the orphanage from suffering worse consequences. How did you feel about that? Did he have other choices? If so, what were they?
· I feel sorry and atrocious that the kids had been selling, but I think he doesn’t have choices because he doesn’t have power or money. If I were him, I also did the same thing at him, because I also love myself.
4. In the film, a young man and woman were stoned to death for committing adultery. Do you think people should be punished by the law for things like adultery? Why or why not?
· I think it is a very bad when they have committing adultery, But I think they should not be punished to the death. It unreasonable to killed.
5. Did you recognize the Taliban leader as being Assef? Why or why not?
· I didn’t recognize the Taliban leader as being Assef, because he had beard, become old and bass voice.
6. Hassan’s son tells Amir that Assef “used to get me.” What do you think the boy meant?
· The boy mean, Assef is a pedophile.
7. Why does Hassan’s son feel “dirty”?
· Hassan’s son felt dirty, because he had sexual activity with Assef.
- Amir confronts the General for his racist slur towards his nephew (“that Hazara boy”). How do you think Baba would have felt if he new Amir stood up for Hassan’s son?
· I think he would felt happy, because Hassan is his son but he can not take care of Sohrab, so I think he felt happy that Amir takes care of Sohrab for him. Amir stand up for Hassan’s son.