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House Of Sand And Fog
2003
Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly star in the powerful drama HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG as two people fighting over the same house. Connelly is Kathy, a troubled young woman struggling with addiction and her husband's departure. Lost in druggy daze, she fails to check her mail, which includes letters threatening to evict her. After .. Read more
| Starring | Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Ron Eldard, Frances Fisher |
|---|---|
| Director | Vadim Perelman |
| Genres | Drama |
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House Of Sand And Fog
Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly star in the powerful drama HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG as two people fighting over the same house. Connelly is Kathy, a troubled young woman struggling with addiction and her husband's departure. Lost in druggy daze, she fails to check her mail, which includes letters threatening to evict her. After she is thrown out of the house she grew up in--wrongly, it turns out, so she seeks legal representation--Massoud Amir Behrani (Kingsley) buys the property at auction with the goal of selling it at a huge profit so his family can live a better life. Behrani, a former colonel in the Iranian army, is determined to make his family's move to the United States a successful one--nothing matters more to him than his wife and son's well-being. But when he sees Kathy sleeping in a car outside his fence, he knows he is in for a fight.
Based on the book by Andre Dubus III, Vadim Perelman's directorial debut is a fascinating study of family in the United States. Kathy has no one to turn to--her father is dead, her husband has abandoned her, and she's too frightened to seek help from her mother or brother. She falls for Lester (Ron Eldard), a deputy sheriff who claims to no longer love his wife. And Behrani is so dedicated to his wife (Shohreh Aghidashloo in a riveting performance) and son (Jonahtan Ahdout) that he blinds himself to Kathy's dire situation. HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG is a relentless, thought-provoking work that will linger with audiences long after the film ends.
| Starring | Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Ron Eldard, Frances Fisher, Kim Dickens |
|---|---|
| Director | Vadim Perelman |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 1 min |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 23 Aug 2004 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Andre Dubus III's bestselling novel is transformed into a richly textured tale of dreams and obsession in this heartbreaking drama from first-time director Vadim Perelman. Revolving around a formidable Oscar-nominated turn by Ben Kingsley, the slow-burning film tells the story of a former Iranian colonel reduced to working menial jobs in the US. Desperate to return his family to the prosperity they once knew, he spends his life's savings on the repossessed home of recovering addict Jennifer Connelly, only to come into tragic confrontation with the woman over the property. Drawing on his own experience as an immigrant, Perelman paints a vivid and moving picture of cultural alienation and desperation. Though the feature occasionally lacks balance, portraying Americans as largely unsympathetic and immigrants as vulnerable, it redeems itself by focusing on the emotional similarities between Kingsley and Connelly's characters. If Connelly looks too well groomed for her tortured role, it certainly doesn't spoil her overall strong performance, while Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jonathan Ahdout are wonderful as Kingsley's wife and son.
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Two dreams collide Ð that of a recovering alcoholic with an emotional attachment to her parents' home, and an immigrant hoping to recover the good life Ð in an engrossing, well-acted drama that is undone by its melodramatic development.
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Most helpful member's review
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59 out of 65 people found this review helpful
Brilliant, but very upsetting.
This is an excellent film, very well acted, directed and written.
I think that the best way to watch this film is by thinking of it in terms of theatrical tragedy. Only drama can explore these deep emotions and not leave you feeling devastated. The problem here, is that the film is not a play and is so very believable.
However, in the dvd extras one of the actors commented that true tragedy only works if you are 100% immersed in the characters and the story. Therein lies the glory of this fantastic film.
Only please be warned, unless you are a cold emotional fish, this story will hit you hard!! Enjoy. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Powerfull , harrowing , yet rewarding.....
having read some of the negative reviews on this film, I see that many people missed the point the film was making.
yes, the initial story, about the house eviction IS unrealistic, however, this film is not about plot, but about the harshness of the world we live in, and the injustices placed upon people.
its main theme, is one of injustice.
and how it affects people in different forms, and how they try to deal with such issues.
the film highlights prejudice also, in the manner the immigrant family are seen by certain natives.
overall, its a brillaint drama, depressing, brutal almost, in its failure to include the typical hollywood ending, yet so much better for it.
stunning performance by Jennifer and Ben, and the patrol cop ( sorry, forgot this name )
A quite complex and interwoven look about human traits and the world we live in.
Anyone watching it for sheer plot or action, and not reading between the lines, will not appreciate the full extent of whats on offer. -
News and features
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Perelman could be Poltergeist director
- 02 Sep 2008
Vadim Perelman, of House of Sand and Fog fame, may be set to be the director of the Poltergeist remake. The director will work with writers Juliet Snowden and Stiles White in the remake of the 1982 film, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Perelman is in talks with MGM about his potential role in the film, after Snowden and White were signed up last week. The director's previous works include House of Sand and Fog in 2003 and The Life Before Her Eyes, released last year, the source reports. He has... Read more
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