House of Sand and Fog

R

Released Dec 26, 2003

2h 6m

Drama

List

74%

Tomatometer

183 Reviews

83%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

Reformed drug addict Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly) has her California coast house, which she inherited from her father, taken away by the county due to a misunderstanding about back taxes. The place is bought by Iranian immigrant Massoud Amir Behrani (Ben Kingsley), who intends to fix it up and sell it in order to provide a better life for his wife (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and son (Jonathan Ahdout). However, Kathy, desperate to get the house back, begins harassing Behrani so he will return it.

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Critics Consensus

Powerful and thought provoking film.

Read Critics Reviews

Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

While the book reads as tragedy, the film feels like melodrama, and really hasn't the guts for Connolly's natural spirit and warmth, or Kingsley's beautiful canniness. They both feel completely throttled, done in by the film's over-calculated heaviness.

Dec 20, 2017

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

... it recaptured my attention with the pitch-perfect performances of both Ben Kingsley and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

Rated: B+

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Serious and thoughtful; for mature teens+.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

The intuition that violent, terrible acts flow inexorably in part from Americans' unawareness and incomprehension of the simplest facts of their own lives is undeniably true.

Feb 15, 2021

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A lack of empathetic characters cripples this poorly paced but well acted drama about an Iranian family who purchase a city-auctioned bungalow in Northern California after its former tenant has been unjustly evicted.

Rated: C

May 9, 2009

Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

A fiercely powerful and melancholy tale about dreams, aspirations and belonging, House of Sand and Fog is a marvellous adaptation.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

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Alan W

It's a very moving film. Watching how one event leads tragically to the next, like dominoes falling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

One of the most tragic mature modern movies that you will ever see and its absolutly a must watch.......sad to say I can never recommend this film to be watch over and over again for entertainment value.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

Todd M

What kind of person would give this film one star? People suck.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

Full Review

donnie m

i'm only half way through this and it's good in places but the actress who is losing her house seems like she's trying to be Demi Moore and it's very distracting....and WORST acting and lines ever for the so called deputy

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

Tamara K

Unfortunately Ben Kingsley was so good in the role that my total hatred of his character made me hate the film.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/26/23

Full Review

KB B

This movie was so engaging. It took a short while to develop but definitely stay with it. It's one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. Ben Kingsley was exceptional. It's definitely worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

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Vadim Perelman

Director

Jennifer Connelly

Kathy Lazaro

Ben Kingsley

Massoud Amir Behrani

Ron Eldard

Deputy Sheriff Lester Burdon

Frances Fisher

Connie Walsh

Kim Dickens

Carol Burdon

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Synopsis

Reformed drug addict Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly) has her California coast house, which she inherited from her father, taken away by the county due to a misunderstanding about back taxes. The place is bought by Iranian immigrant Massoud Amir Behrani (Ben Kingsley), who intends to fix it up and sell it in order to provide a better life for his wife (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and son (Jonathan Ahdout). However, Kathy, desperate to get the house back, begins harassing Behrani so he will return it.

Director: Vadim Perelman
Producer: Michael London
Screenwriter: Vadim Perelman, Shawn Otto, Andre Dubus
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, Miramax Films
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Bisgrove Entertainment, Cobalt Media Group
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Scene of Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 26, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.0M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Surround

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