The Kite Runner is a 2007 American drama film directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by David Benioff based on Khaled Hosseini's 2003 novel of the same name. The film chronicles a wealthy boy from Kabul named Amir who carries deep guilt over abandoning his friend Hassan. The narrative unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of Afghanistan's history, encompassing the monarchy's collapse, Soviet military intervention, mass refugee displacement, and the Taliban's rise to power.