Associated Press
Thursday, December 6, 2007

KABUL -- Four boy actors in the movie "The Kite Runner" have left Afghanistan out of concern they could be ostracized or subjected to violence because of a rape scene in the movie, a film executive said.

"The Kite Runner," which had its world premiere Tuesday in Hollywood, is based on the 2003 best-selling novel by Afghan American writer Khaled Hosseini. In the story, the main character witnesses the rape of his friend but does nothing to stop it.

Although the film is not scheduled for release in Afghanistan, there are concerns that pirated DVDs could reach Kabul and some residents might react violently to the rape scene.

The four boys, each accompanied by a relative, left Afghanistan and arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, said Megan Colligan, executive vice president of marketing for Paramount Vantage, which is releasing the film.

Studio executives felt they should get the boys out of the country before "The Kite Runner" opens Dec. 14 in the United States, Colligan said.

"We were told that what really might trigger any sort of reaction would be pirated copies of the film entering the country, which could set off widespread rumors about the content," Colligan said.

In September, the father of one of the boys told the Associated Press he had asked that the rape scene be cut from the film. Ahmad Jaan Mahmidzada said he had been assured it would not be included. But the film's producers, E. Bennett Walsh and Rebecca Yeldham, said they had already spoken with the families of the actors and addressed their concerns about the scene.

"The Kite Runner," originally scheduled for Nov. 2 release, was delayed six weeks so that the boy actors could leave Kabul.

Shaun Toub, another actor, said the boys were very excited about "The Kite Runner" during the filming, but violence and instability have since escalated in the country.

"Unfortunately things have deteriorated over there, so it has been a very awkward position for us," Toub said.