Afghanistan bans Kite Runner

[sabra]

Source: inthenews uk

The import and exhibition of Afghan-set drama The Kite Runner has been banned in its homeland over fears it could incite violence.

The Paramount Pictures release, an adaptation of Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini's 2003 bestselling novel, features a rape scene involving individuals from rival tribes and has led to fears of ethnic unrest.

In a pivotal scene in the film, Amir, a wealthy member of the Pashtun tribe, (played by 11-year-old Zekeria Ebrahimi) fails to intervene when Hassan, a comparatively poor member of the Hazara tribe (played by 13-year-old Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada), is raped by a Pashtun man.

Four young stars of the film were shipped out of Afghanistan last month to protect them from potential retribution concerning the scene which has been labelled anti-Islamic and inflammatory by protesters.

"On the basis of the instruction of the information and culture ministry, the Kite Runner film's depiction and import has been banned," Latif Ahmadi, the head of state-run Afghan Film told the Reuters news agency yesterday

Read more: http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/film/autocodes/countries/afghanistan/afghanistan-bans-kite-runner-$1188352.htm

[Kali]

1. Don't know about the movie, but in the book the rapist's mother was European.

[YDogg]

2. Freedon is on the March

[sabra]

3. Laura Bush to author: "President Bush and I both really, really enjoyed your book"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060316-18.html

<snip>

And I am especially thrilled to finally meet the author of The Kite Runner. (Applause.) Mr. Khaled Hosseini. President Bush and I both really, really enjoyed your book. And we recommend it. I recommended it today at a tea at the White House to some women who asked me what I was reading.

[hisownpetard]

4. She read it out loud while George stared into space, because there were no pictures

for him to look at.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Odd choice of words...

I couldn't put it down, and I thought it was beautifully written; but I did not enjoy it. There was too much gut-wrenching for it to be enjoyable.

[wtmusic]

5. Interesting that the book wasn't banned

but the film was.

Maybe they figure illiterates would be more prone to violence.

[acmavm]

6. Funny how these guys can't stand to see a movie depiction of

what they do to women all the time, isn't it?

[uppityperson]

7. It is also pretty scathing towards the Taliban.