On Thursday, December 13, 2007, 11 lucky sixth form students visited the  Cornerhouse Cinema in Manchester to watch a sneak preview of The Kite Runner.

Based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel this is a powerful and moving story of friendship and loyalty which shifts between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the USA and between past and present. Although this is not a spoiler alert it is advisable to take plenty of tissues with you as there are some highly charged emotional scenes.

The film does not over-sentimentalise or judge the actions of the protagonists and it is a riveting and highly recommended two hours viewing.

Another bonus in watching the film was that it touched on issues of Islam and that many different languages are spoken (subtitles are provided) including English and Farsi. 

This created an added dimension to the film-viewing experience for many of our students as many can understand Farsi and engaged with the exploration of Islamic culture and the traditions of Afghanistan.

The preview was organised by Filmeducation who provided the tickets for free. It was well-attended with schools and sixth form colleges from around Manchester present for the screening. 

However there was some consternation when it was announced that the film would not be starting at 10 a.m. as stated but at 10 30! This had many teachers scrambling for their mobiles and phoning their respective schools in order to make alternative arrangements for period 4!

Our sixth form students were suitably impressed by the film but also by the cinema itself. Grace K said "This is the first time I've been to the Cornerhouse. I didn't even know it was here but I will come and watch films again." 

Kamran C also said that he was amazed that he had travelled up and down Oxford Road many times and hadn't realised there was a cinema here. As for the film he said, "I want the DVD right now!" 

Kamran, Grace and fellow-student Fatima S also had another reason to be there. Being Media students they carried out a case study of the Cornerhouse, noting amongst other things, the difference between this art house venue and the mainstream cinemas they generally visit.

The worksheets they completed will be part of a coursework assignment which investigates how cinema has adapted and changed over the last twenty years in order to remain a profit-making industry and a place people still want to go to.

Many thanks to Mr Moses for ensuring our safe "delivery and collection" and to Mrs Walsh for her assistance at the screening. A hugely successful visit and a highly recommended film.

By Stephen Evans