I bought the movie and watched it tonight (my wife and daughters went out of town today to a family reunion, so I had the place to myself). It was, of course, the tear jerker I remembered from reading the book. Excellent movie.

yea-the words -----------i am dirty-really hit home for me

Me, too, Steve. It just sums it all up.

I guess I should say that for me the most powerful aspect of this story was Amir's guilt and shame at what he regarded as the betrayal of his friend. I felt like I had betrayed my friend too. It had always been up to me to make sure we "got away with it" and stayed out of trouble - this was my job, he was younger than me. What I didn't yet understand was that it can't be a 13-year-old's responsibility to save his 11-year-old friend from an adult, especially not when both of us were being hurt. So it helped me when I got to that part of the book and immediately recognized not only Amir's feelings, but also his own helplessness.

Much love,
Larry

I think some of the more painful moments in the book and film for me was when we see Hassan's unfailing faithfulness to Amir, even when Amir has betrayed him or is openly abusive towards him. There was a lot of Hassan in me when friends were being like Amir, but I didn't think I deserved any better.