Paramount Studios: Go Fly A Kite

I've actually had time to sit and read occasionally, guilt free. It's been years. I have finished 4 books so far this summer, and began a new one yesterday written by an old high school classmate. Two Baldacci novels-Simple Genius and Camel Club- (on a transcontinental round trip), the complicated Middlesex, and The Kite Runner are now on the recycle pile. The one I really want to talk about is The Kite Runner, which has been on the NY Times Bestseller list for more than two years, published in hardcover, paperback and audio in 42 languages. A friend gave it to me a year and a half ago as a 'must read', and I've FINALLY finished it.

We rented the movie a few weeks ago. It was very true to the book, and a very powerful film (as was the novel). It really put you in the middle of recent Afghanistan history, from the fall of the monarchy through the Soviet invasion, the refugee exodus to Pakistan and the US, and the impact of the Taliban. The director wanted authenticity, so he went to Kabul and cast unknowns for his film. Which has caused all sorts of problems for the boys in the film.

The story shows the class friction between the Pashtuns and the Hazara, and includes the rape of Hassan, friend of Amir, well off Pashtun whose father employs Hassan's father as a servant. Amir battles with his guilt over not helping Hassan. The film's treatment of the rape scene was not graphic, and doubles were used. But that was not enough to quell the anger of some Afghans. The release of the film was delayed until Paramount could get four of the boys who were in the film out of the country. Now they wish they had never been in the film. A report on All Things Considered last week has been stuck in my mind ever since.

The boys who played Amir, Hassan, Sohrab, and Omar were sent with guardians to Dubai, enrolled in the International School there, and given stipends. The guardians were assisted with employment, and had to sign contracts that the arrangements would be subject to change if they talked to the media (to protect the boys' anonimity, says the consulting firm handling this). Paramount would continue this agreement until the boys reach adulthood, at an estimated $500,000 cost.

All is not well in Dubai, however. One boy and his guardian, an aunt who has raised him since infancy, missed their extended family in Kabul. They could not live on the low wage job found for the aunt. So they went back to Kabul after 4 months in exile. Life has not been kind back home. Though the film was banned in Afghanistan, pirated copies of the DVD abound. Friction between the Pashtuns and Hazara has escalated. The boy has had threats on his life. Their home has been broken into by gangs. Copies of the film have been sent to all the neighbors with the boy's address included. So he is imprisoned in his own home. A teenage boy who cannot go outside his four walls after appearing in a successful movie.

The spokesman for the consulting firm representing Paramount thinks the studio has gone 'above and beyond'. I disagree. The film has been very successful, according to box office data. The US gross stands at $15.8 million, with $55.2 million internationally for nearly $71 million total. Throw in another $5.2 million in DVD sales since March, I'd say Paramount is doing OK with this one. They paid the boys in the neighborhood of $17,500 each for their roles in the film.The boy and his aunt want the family to be moved to the US. I don't think that is too much to ask. It's the least they can do.