The Kite Runner
Chantelle DaCunha
January, 14th 2013
ENG- E4U
Mrs. Nizic
The Kite Runner Novel Vs. Film
Transforming a novel into a film can be a very challenging task to do. This is due to the fact that a novel has many key factors that make up the plot and it is nearly impossible to compress them in a certain time frame. Mark Forster’s adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s coming of age novel “The Kite Runner” is a weak portrayal of the originally work because specific scenes lacked intense emotion, specific scenes were left out completely and specific scenes were poorly altered.
The changes made in the movie have a significant effect on the overall message of the story. One of the parts in the film that lacked intense emotion compared to the novel was the rape scene, and how it was never physically shown, just implied. In the novel, guilt stands out as one of the key themes. Amir’s conscience has the guilt of Hassan’s rape throughout the whole novel which leads him to making decisions he most likely would not have made if the rape did not happen, an example of this would be saving Sohrab. In the novel, the scene is explained through the narration of Amir in sensory detail. “Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan’s back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn’t struggle. Didn’t even whimper.” (Page 75) As one can see this scene is explained with great detail which gives the story more depth and emotion. This scene not only shapes the movie but it also shapes Amir, whom is the main character. As for the film, the scene does not physically show the rape, the scene just implies it happened. While reading this scene in the novel one has a clear understanding why Amir makes the decisions he does. As for the film the rape
January, 14th 2013
ENG- E4U
Mrs. Nizic
The Kite Runner Novel Vs. Film
Transforming a novel into a film can be a very challenging task to do. This is due to the fact that a novel has many key factors that make up the plot and it is nearly impossible to compress them in a certain time frame. Mark Forster’s adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s coming of age novel “The Kite Runner” is a weak portrayal of the originally work because specific scenes lacked intense emotion, specific scenes were left out completely and specific scenes were poorly altered.
The changes made in the movie have a significant effect on the overall message of the story. One of the parts in the film that lacked intense emotion compared to the novel was the rape scene, and how it was never physically shown, just implied. In the novel, guilt stands out as one of the key themes. Amir’s conscience has the guilt of Hassan’s rape throughout the whole novel which leads him to making decisions he most likely would not have made if the rape did not happen, an example of this would be saving Sohrab. In the novel, the scene is explained through the narration of Amir in sensory detail. “Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks. He kept one hand on Hassan’s back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand. He unzipped his jeans. Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn’t struggle. Didn’t even whimper.” (Page 75) As one can see this scene is explained with great detail which gives the story more depth and emotion. This scene not only shapes the movie but it also shapes Amir, whom is the main character. As for the film, the scene does not physically show the rape, the scene just implies it happened. While reading this scene in the novel one has a clear understanding why Amir makes the decisions he does. As for the film the rape