A comparative study on terrorism in The Kite Runner by Hosseini and Its Film Adaptation

Abstract

This research is a comparative study over Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and its film adaptation by Marc Forster. This study further clarifies how terrorism is interpreted by the West and how it tends to view the rest of the world following 9/11 attack. Hosseini, in the novel describes war in Afghanistan and its consequences causing cultural disaster, refugee problems, terror and so forth. But transferring book into screen, Marc Forster presents the cultural lights and sounds of Afghan life on a very small scale. Rather, he focuses on the issues and incidents that negativizes the Afghan in particular and the whole Muslim race in general. Hence, this project makes a focus upon the film adaptation of the novel by Marc Forster highlighting some of the events thereby reducing the originality of the novel. Marc Forster during adaptation omits the issues presented by Hosseini in his novel. The event that occurred in American embassy in Islamabad is totally erased. American officer rejects Amir’s proposal for adopting the Muslim boy, Sohrab. Because of this reason he attempts to commit suicide. Story of Sanaubar, who is Hassan’s mother, is found by Hassan in front of Agha sahib’s house with front teeth missing is deleted by the film version. In the same way, Amir meeting with beggar and the beggar reality as a past university teacher is detailed in novel but erased by the film version. While rescuing Sohrab, Amir is attacked by Assef. For this reason he is admitted in the hospital in Peshawar for treatment. But this issue is hidden in Forster’s film. By the same token, Hassan’s sexual exploitation and physical exploitation of Sohrab in particular and orphanage children in general by Assef is highly magnified. The scene of Russian invasion in Afghanistan, brutal killing in Ghazi stadium, pathetic condition of orphanage, Talibs projection with long beard and rough dress and their beard patrol are the issues highly focused by Forster in his film version.