The music within the film "The Kite Runner" is a fusion between East and West and it invokes both the excitement and joy reflected in elements of the story as well as the terrible sadness represented in others.
The opening credit is underscored with lively Middle Eastern music with woodwinds, strings, and percussion. In the beginning scenes in Afghanistan there is a sort of mystic Middle Eastern sounding chant as the camera pans over the landscape. This conveys the beauty of Afghanistan in the 1970s and is in contrast with the desolate wasteland that Amir returns to later in the film. Several elements of classical Hollywood score are also used is this film; for example, when the boys run after the kite in the first scene (the kite scene before Amir wins the tournament) the drum pounds in time with their feet and serves as an example of illustration. During the second tournament illustration is used again as the kite takes off the music goes up in pitch as if it is also "taking off".
Unlike a traditional Hollywood score, the music within "Kite Runner" is not wall to wall. During dialogue there are many moments of silence. One can notice that during the more serious scenes silence is used to convey the heaviness of situations while lively music is used during scenes of excitement or danger.
While most of the music is underscoring, there are also several examples of diegetic music. At young Amir's birthday party the band plays traditional Middle Eastern Music, which is played at older Amir's wedding. When Amir graduates from college, however, the music played at the bar on the jukebox is eighties American pop music. The differences between traditional culture and American culture serves as an interesting contrast in Amir's life, especially when he returns to Afghanistan and the music reflects that.
The end credits of the film are also Middle Eastern sounding as where the beginning credits, but it is a much more soulful representation which illustrates a maturity and wealth of experiences, some happy others sad. Strings allow this soul and depth to come through.
The music within "The Kite Runner" is a good reflection of both the joy and sadness of the film and the conflict between two different cultures.
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I like how you commented on the music representing the conflict between the two cultures. The music represents both the East and the West and changes throughout the film. I also agree that the music reflects both the joy and the sadness of the film.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I agree that the film score did a great job of contrasting different themes and ideas throughout the film and I like how you pointed this out.