Movies and the real world

I havn't read The Kite Runner in spite of multiple recommendations. But I did get invited to the movie premiere tonight. It's a compelling story of betrayal and redemption which stays with you. The film is beautifully shot - much of it in China masquerading as Afghanistan - but has an authentic feel to it. I hope it succeeds. My neighbour at the screening however was uncomfortable at how much of the recent history of failed states and world crises is being told through fiction. The Last King of Scotland being another recent and successful example among several. It seems to me as long as they are true to history and authentic in their representation using narrative to engage an audience in events they might otherwise ignore can only be a good thing.