Entertainment > Iranian Actors > HAPPY CONCLUSION FOR CHILD STARS OF THE KITE RUNNER BY DARIUS KADIVAR
Kite Runner boys exit Afghanistan
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Marc Forster’s upcoming film the Kite Runner based on Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini was subject to some controversy in Afghanistan for endangering the lives of one of the major child actors. The scene that triggered the controversy was that of a rape scene (only suggested) but which given the highly conservative Afghan society was hurting the reputation of the child and his family in what was just a re-enactment of a crucial scene for the film’s plot which could not be avoided. After receiving death threats and due to the genuine concern for the safety of the protagonists in the film of Afghan nationality, and by insistence from the Afghan American Author Hosseini himself, the four child stars of the Kite Runner have been flown out of War Torn Afghanistan to safety…
The four child stars of The Kite Runner have been flown out of Afghanistan over concerns for their safety, the makers of the film have said.
The boys arrived in the United Arab Emirates last week, confirmed Megan Colligan from Paramount Vantage. The move comes amid worries the actors could be targeted over a homosexual rape scene in the film.
The Kite Runner is based on the 2003 best-selling novel by Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini. Film executives said they felt they should get the boys out of the country before the film opened in the US on 14 December.
'Safe and stable'
Paramount had delayed the release of the film by six weeks over fears for the stars' safety.
'Last Friday, the four child actors from The Kite Runner left Afghanistan following the recommendations of several non-government organizations and Afghan experts concerning their security,' the film company said in a statement.
'Their safety and well-being has always been our utmost concern and we are thrilled we were able to get them to a safe and stable location.’
The Kite Runner tells the story of a young boy living through the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of the Taleban.
The harrowing scene - in which the novel's protagonist witnesses his best friend being raped but fails to intervene - is a pivotal moment in the story.
Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, who plays the victim of the attack in the film, has earned glowing reviews, with the New York Times describing it as being 'among the great child performances on film'.
Although The Kite Runner is not scheduled for release in Afghanistan, there are concerns that pirated DVDs could reach Kabul and some residents could react violently to the controversial scenes. There are also fears that the film could stir tensions for playing on stereotypes of Afghan ethnic groups.
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