Search - House of Sand and Fog on DVD

House of Sand and Fog

Actor(s): Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Ron Eldard, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jonathan Ahdout
Director(s): Vadim Perelman
60

Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Sexual Situations
Movie Release: 2003
DVD Release: 03/30/2004
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned
Audio Tracks: English, French
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 2 hrs 6 mins
Studio: DreamWorks
Total Copies: 20
Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama

DVD Synopsis

Russian filmmaker Vadim Perelman makes his feature-film debut with the psychological drama House of Sand and Fog, based on the novel by Andre Dubus III. Ben Kingsley plays Massoud Amir Behrani, an Iranian immigrant living the United States. Even though he was a high-ranking official in Iran, he works several menial jobs in order to provide his wife, Nadi (Shohreh Aghdashloo), and his son, Esmail (Jonathan Ahdout), with an apartment in California. He buys a California bungalow, thinking he can fix it up, sell it again, and make enough money to send Esmail to college. However, the house is the legal property of former drug addict Kathy (Jennifer Connelly). After losing the house in an unfair legal dispute with the county, she is left with nowhere to go. Wanting her house back, she hires a lawyer (Frances Fisher) and befriends a police officer (Ron Eldard). Neither Kathy nor Behrani have broken the law, so they find themselves involved in a difficult moral dilemma. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Actors

Jennifer Connelly - Kathy Nicolo
Ben Kingsley - Massoud Amir Behrani
Ron Eldard - Lester Burdon
Shohreh Aghdashloo - Nadi Behrani
Jonathan Ahdout - Esmail Behrani
Frances Fisher - Connie Walsh

Editorial Review of DVD

Vadim Perelman's drama House of Sand and Fog comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. The supplemental materials are headed by a commentary track recorded by Perelman, Andre Dubus III (whose novel provided the basis for the film), and lead actor Ben Kingsley who garnered an Oscar nomination for his work in the film. Their commentary is fairly dry and serious, but that certainly fits with the overall tone of the film. There are a half-dozen deleted scenes with optional director commentary that can be accessed. Arguably the most interesting extra is the audition tape for Shohreh Aghdashloo, who also was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an acting nomination for this movie. Production notes, a still photo gallery, and biographies of the cast and crew round out this solid release from DreamWorks. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Alice O. from RALEIGH, NC wrote on 10/14/2009...

I had first viewed this film in 2004 when it came out on DVD and then in August, I read the book for my book club and couldn't wait to see the film again! I requested it on SwapaDVD and voila! The movie made more sense after I had read the book and I actually liked the film better.

Heather F. (8izenuff) from PHOENIX, AZ wrote on 9/12/2009...

I felt I had to read the book after seeing the movie. It was a disturbing movie. The events were tragic.

S A A. (Learned2Heal) wrote on 11/4/2008...

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Very riveting psychological drama that shows the misunderstandings that can arise between people of different cultures and how, ultimately, we are all just reacting to the storylines we concoct (perceive?) in our own heads. How people from different backgrounds, with different histories, different experiences, can perceive the same situation so utterly differently. How "I" and "me" ultimately almost always prevails, especially under stress. And, in this case, the dire and truly unnecessary sad consequences that result from this chemistry.

I had read the book before seeing the movie and was surprised to find how true the movie stayed to the original story. So rare these days...

If you like great acting, a strong storyline, well-developed characters and an excellent script within a tense, unrelenting drama... you will love this movie.