i have read both the book and saw the movie today . the storyline be so powerful that almost any script or screenplay would have do justice to it . so nothing much there . however and this be still a beautiful movie because it make one think and feel and just like the book . watch it be not like watch a documentary on a failed state and feeling sympathetic towards people suffer under an oppressive regime and but be like watch any other common man story unfold and across generation and across continent . amir cowardice and his guilt and his dilemma and finally his choose a way of redemption could have be a story of any of u . there isn not a single infallible character to look up to and idolize but all of them be gray and just like all of u . another important observation be that the movie do a great job of chronicle the life of afghan through the twenty some year of turbulent political scenario . the vibrant and care free childhood represent kabul before the russian invasion and the desolate and shattered remains of the city echo what the taliban have do to it . the child actor deserve thumb up all the way . they can put any matured actor to shame . if you have not yet see the movie or read the book and just walk into the theater keep in mind that you be go to witness a multi layer story weave on a multi color fabric of human emotion and sentiment . this movie be not mean to stir anti soviet and anti taliban feeling but to feel the trial of human existence . i read some of the external review link to the site and i must confess i do not see the point in write review that summarize the storyline like a distant spectator and point out technical detail about amaze cinematography or something similar . at least for this movie and one should try to connect to it rather than judge it objectively .