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The director and co-writer, Vadim Perelman, doesn't lay out the plot like bricks on a wall, but allows it to reveal itself. We see Massoud working on a highway construction gang, washing himself in a rest room, getting into a Mercedes, and driving to his other job, as an all-night clerk in an roadside convenience store. When the wealthy have a fall, the luxury car is often the last treasure to go; better an expensive old car than a cheap new one. Yes, Massoud has memories, of the good life they led and their shore cottage in Iran. House of Sand and Fog is a 2003 drama film directed by Vadim Perelman, with a screenplay written by Perelman and Shawn Lawrence Otto.
The film raises important ethical questions.
Kathy discovers the couple and frantically attempts to resuscitate Massoud but she is too late. As the bodies of Massoud and Nadereh are taken away by paramedics, a policeman asks Kathy if the house is hers. Due to its mature themes and intense content, House of Sand and Fog is not recommended for young children.
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Yes, perhaps, Massoud should agree with Kathy's public defender (Frances Fisher) and sell the house back for what he paid. But we know, from looking into his books (where every Snickers bar is accounted for) that he is almost broke. This is his last chance to keep up appearances for his wife and son, and to look substantial in the eyes of his daughter's new Iranian husband and in-laws.
The film showcases the destructive power of unresolved conflicts.
A former Colonel in the Iranian Air Force, Behrani has been reduced to working menial jobs to maintain a pretense of affluence. Now he pours the last of his life savings into the purchase of the house that will, at last, bring back the prosperity his family once knew. A beautiful home becomes the crux of an increasingly dangerous conflict between the evicted former owner and an Iranian immigrant who purchases the foreclosed property. Massoud begs God to save his son but Esmail does not survive. Believing they have nothing left to live for, Massoud kills Nadereh by lacing her tea with pills. He then dons his old military uniform, tapes a plastic dust cover over his head, and asphyxiates himself while clutching his wife's hand.
House of Sand and Fog is on shaky ground - The Guardian
House of Sand and Fog is on shaky ground.
Posted: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Reviews
Even as the conflict over the house escalates, Behrani, Lester and Kathy all hold on to compassion and decency, and even show signs of a willingness to relent. They seem to agree that no house is worth a human life, which makes the heavily foreshadowed final cataclysm especially painful and powerful. And finally there is a kind of love and loyalty, however strange to us, that reveals itself in the marriage of Massoud and Nadi, and must be respected. Massoud, having already spent money on improving the house, is unwilling to accept anything less than the higher value of the property, which the county refuses to pay.
At the heart of House of Sand and Fog lies a gripping conflict surrounding the ownership of a house, which sets off a chain of events with devastating consequences. House of Sand and Fog delves deep into complex themes, providing thought-provoking commentary on issues such as identity, displacement, and the pursuit of one’s dreams. This gripping drama first made its way to the big screen in 2003, captivating audiences with its powerful story.
What follows is a harrowing tale of conflict, desperation, and the human struggle for identity and belonging. House of Sand and Fog is a thought-provoking film that delves deep into the complexities of human nature and the consequences of our actions. In conclusion, House of Sand and Fog is a powerful and thought-provoking film that offers a gripping and emotional viewing experience. With its skilled direction, stellar performances, and compelling storyline, it delves into complex themes of identity, loss, and the consequences of our actions. Whether you’re a fan of drama or simply appreciate exceptional storytelling, House of Sand and Fog is a must-watch for any movie enthusiast. Behrani, an Iranian immigrant buys a California bungalow, thinking he can fix it up, sell it again, and make enough money to send his son to college.
With its captivating story, powerful performances, and profound exploration of human nature, House of Sand and Fog has rightly earned its place among the most memorable films of its genre. So, sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the compelling world of House of Sand and Fog. Once a member of the Shah of Iran's elite inner circle, he has brought his family to America to build a new life. Despite a pretense of continued affluence, he is barely making ends meet until he sees his opportunity in the auction of a house being sold for back taxes. Through a bureaucratic snafu, the house had been improperly seized from its rightful owner, Kathy Nicolo, a self-destructive alcoholic. The loss of her home tears away Kathy's last hope of a stable life--a life that had been nearly destroyed by addiction--and Kathy decides to fight to recover her home at any cost.
About the Film
House of Sand and Fog, directed by Vadim Perelman, is a gripping and intense drama that explores the tragic consequences of a misunderstanding over a property. Released in 2003, the film boasts a stellar cast including Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, and Ron Eldard, who deliver powerful performances that captivate audiences from start to finish. The story revolves around a young woman, Kathy Nicolo, who is evicted from her family home due to a bureaucratic error. As the house is auctioned off, it falls into the hands of an Iranian immigrant, Behrani, who believes it is the key to establishing a better future for his family.
Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly), a recovering alcoholic, has been living alone since her husband walked out eight months ago. She has fallen behind on the taxes for her modest split-level home that has a view, however distant, of the California shore. A gripping exploration of the American Dream gone awry, House of Sand and Fog is the story of two people driven to desperate measures to claim ownership of a house. It is only a small bungalow in Northern California, but to Kathy Nicolo (Connelly), it is the last vestige of hope for reclaiming a life that was nearly lost to addiction. When a bureacratic error forces her eviction, Kathy is left homeless—helpless to stop the house from being sold at auction for a fraction of its worth. Into the lives of these two blameless parties comes a third, Lester Burdon (Ron Eldard), the deputy sheriff who evicts Kathy but is touched by her grief, then stirred by her beauty.
In a xenophobic rage, Lester locks the Behranis in their own bathroom, refusing to let them out until Massoud agrees to relinquish the house. Massoud offers to sell the house and will give Kathy the money in exchange for her putting the house in his name. Lester takes Massoud to the county office to finalize the transaction. Did House of Sand and Fog receive any awards or nominations?
Conflict is said to be the basis of popular fiction, and yet here is a film that seizes us with its first scene and never lets go, and we feel sympathy all the way through for everyone in it. To be sure, they sometimes do bad things, but the movie understands them and their flaws. Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil. House of Sand and Fog does not have a traditional happy ending. It is a dark and tragic film that explores the consequences of human actions.
Prepare to be left in awe by the haunting ending of House of Sand and Fog, which resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impression. House of Sand and Fog highlights the delicate and often fragile nature of human relationships, exposing the vulnerabilities that lie beneath the surface. House of Sand and Fog sheds light on the challenges faced by immigrant families striving for a better life, exploring the delicate balance between cultural identity and assimilation.
Kathy (Jennifer Connelly), who inherited the house from her father, is evicted for failing to pay a county business tax mistakenly assessed against the property. Colonel Behrani (Ben Kingsley) buys the house at auction, hoping to restore his family's fortune by selling it at a profit. There is much more that the movie will unfold to you, but although I will not reveal it, it isn't in the nature of a surprise plot development. At every step, we feel we are seeing what could and would naturally happen next -- not because of coincidence or contrivance, but because of the natures of the people involved.
Her struggle is joined by deputy sheriff Lester Burdon, who tries to take the law into his own hands to help Kathy. Ultimately the tale, itself, explores what happens when the American Dream goes terribly awry. That household, with its polished brass coffee table and overstuffed furniture, is the emotional and dramatic center of the movie. Mr. Kingsley is an actor of formidable reserve, and when he lets it go, you feel as if the world itself has broken open. The deepest pathos comes from the quietest performer, Shohreh Aghdashloo, who speaks very little (in Farsi and broken English) and whose eloquence resides in her weary, lovely face. Next to her poise and delicacy, Ms. Connelly seems a little blank, as if she were suppressing her smartness and agility to play a woman of greater passivity and lesser intelligence.
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