This film was sneaked by Film Independent for their Filmmaker Forum and I couldn’t have been less excited. Come on, after all the negative press surrounding a controversial scene (involving a child, no less) why would I want to spend my Friday night watching that?
First, this film isn’t THE ACCUSED; it’s not just about a horrific crime. Second, the kid that plays Hassan is amazing. His smile lights up the screen. His character refuses to let this victimization drag him down.
That said, I do have a few criticisms. One, the children’s stories are more compelling than the adults, so sections of the film drag. Two, while Marc Forester is a fine director he’ll never be great, he’ll never reach the ranks of a Scorsese or a Coppola (I’m talking about Francis, not Sofia). By extension, while the film is solid it never soars (despite carefully crafted kite flying sequences that invoke the great cinematic dogfights of yore).
Is this movie worth the price of admission? Yes. Is it a slam dunk? No. As a colleague said as she was exiting the screening, “I felt my eyes well up but tears never fell.”
Loading ...