can a film be too faithful to the book upon which it be base . judge from the time span 2007 adaptation of khaled hosseini huge 2003 seller and the answer be rather ironically yes . like many and i be enthral by the book and an impressive first effort by the afghan american writer or physician . so obviously be director marc forster ( strange than fiction ) and screenwriter david benioff ( troy ) and who pay meticulous attention to the most significant detail of the story within the film 127 minute run time . yet and the seamless tapestry of heartfelt event in hosseini novel often come across a episodic and truncate because forster and benioff be sincerely try hard to remain true to the full scope of the story within the time constraint . part of the challenge be how hosseini carefully use symbolic act to provide literary and then and now symmetry to what be essentially a three act story and a technique that can come across a somewhat contrive on screen . however and the filmmaker do the most important thing right and specifically give the viewer an intimate look into a hidden culture heretofore convey through cnn news report and ensure authenticity by have character speak in the dari persian dialect of the afghan language and and capture the emotional entanglement of the complex narrative . the first part of the movie be set in 1978 afghanistan before the soviet invasion and the eventual takeover of the taliban . the focus be on the relationship between amir and the son of an affluent businessman name baba and and the devote hassan and the son of his father servant . connect by their mutual love of kite running and the two be thick a thief until a tragic event separate them irreparably . unable to find the courage that come so naturally to his father and amir be cripple by guilt for not have rescue hassan from an unspeakable act perform by a trio of local bully . forster make especially palpable the ethnic tension between the hazara and the pashtun in afghanistan . upon the 1979 invasion by soviet troop and amir and baba flee to the u. s. where the story pick up their story nine year later in fremont and california and a suburban enclave of afghan émigrés . baba be reduce to work in a gas station and operate a flea market kiosk . amir meet a local afghan girl and marries . this be the film least interesting passage since benioff treatment give short shrift to ancillary character like amir wife soraya and most critically and amir be portray by necessity a a reticent young man with a downward cast toward his self esteem . the final section flash forward twelve year where amir and upon publication of his first book and be summon back to taliban dictated afghanistan to rescue hassan son from the taliban and a a mean to atone for his cowardice year earlier . there be true suspense and fear generate in this portion of the story a shock revelation and old acquaintance come back to haunt amir during his journey . a british actor of egyptian heritage and khalid abdalla ( the lead hijacker in united 93 ) have the central role of amir a an adult and a challenging role since he have to convey a constant sense of shame and diminish self worth until the end . the other professional actor fare well shaun toub ( tony stark savior yinsen in the current iron man ) a baba business partner rahim khan and who hold the key to the truth while atossa leoni quietly affect a soraya while and best of all and iranian actor homayoun ershadi who bring pride and dignity to baba . three young non professional be recruit from kabul school system to play the key child role and and all be quite good . zekeria ebrahimi be up to the challenge of the tough part a young amir and and ali danish bakhtyari be poignant a hassan nearly catatonic son sohrab . but it the sad eyed and moon face ahmad khan mahmoodzada who will break your heart a the young hassan and especially in the devastating pomegranate throw scene . it fair to say his performance be on par with the young enzo staiola in vittorio de sica classic bicycle thief . the technical aspect be well do and in particular and roberto schaefer clean cinematography ( western china convincingly substitute for afghanistan ) and alberto iglesias evocative score and and even the cgi effect showcasing the kite in turbulent flight . the 2008 dvd have a solid set of extra begin with an insightful commentary from forster and hosseini and and benioff and although some of their dialogue seem rather force . there be two featurettes include the first be the 14 minute word from the kite runner and which focus on hosseini connection to the story and the development of the novel and and the second be the 25 minute image from the kite runner and a more standard behind the scene look at the production . round out the extra be the original theatrical trailer and a few preview and and a psa from hosseini on how to help the afghan during their current time of need .