It just keeps getting more disturbing for me!

  I had no idea why The Kite Runner was so controversial until we watched it yesterday. During the scene when Hassan is sexually assaulted, initially I was shocked but not as disturbed as I became through out the day. Don’t get me wrong the scene made my stomach turn but thinking back on the movie in my next classes and into the night it made me sick.

            I actually expected the scene to be much more graphic and violent. I thought that if the child actor is now in hiding there had to be something that crossed a major line, something even beyond the act itself. What this could be is unthinkable to me but I think what makes it so bad is the emotions that each character had before, during and after.

            Hassan is so devoted to Amir. He took physical pain over a kite for him. Being raped will ruin him emotional for a very long time and he is so good to Amir he didn’t even flight back. Also the look on his face after he is defeated, lying on his stomach, is what stayed with me. He looks so helpless and subservient. Assef seems to be getting pleasure out of this “punishment” which is extremely disturbing and his henchmen watch and help hold Hassan down, which is beyond unsettling. Also, the fact that Amir sees the whole act and, even after Hassan has defended him, doesn’t do anything. Then he starts to resent him and shy away from their friendship.

            Overall, I totally get it now. Any unthinkable act, especially with children, is something that makes your stomach spin but putting faces, voices and gut wrenching visuals like dripping blood on the big screen is something I would have rather not scene. I can see how this would be bad enough in the book.