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Article: 'Kite Runner': Danger On and Off the Screen; Reaction to Rape Scene in Film Raises Fear of Reprisals Against Child Stars
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 5, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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On a dusty street in south Kabul that still bears the scars of
three decades of fighting, a 12-year-old boy is living the next
chapter of "The Kite Runner," the best-selling book about
friendship, betrayal and redemption in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
Last year, filmmakers came to the Afghan capital and, intent on
bringing the story to the screen, auditioned 5,000 youngsters for
starring roles. They plucked two local boys from obscurity and cast
them as Amir, the privileged child who is the movie's narrator, and
Hassan, his loyal, if underprivileged, companion.
For Zekeria Ebrahim, an eager and affable schoolboy with cheerful
brown eyes, playing the role of Amir brought poignant reminders of ...