Balancing Morality...

It is a simple, plausible, powerful story that leads to devastating consequences. Vadim Perelman directs this adaptation of the best-selling novel in which a modest two story home becomes the focal point of an all-out war between two parties.

One of those parties is Kathy Nicolo, played with absolute conviction and heartbreaking poignancy by Jennifer Connelly. Kathy has had a hard life. Her family is distant, literally and figuratively. She has had bouts with drug abuse and alcohol addiction. And finally, after overcoming all that, her husband left her to fend for herself. Months later, she finds herself in a constant state of depression and denial which leaves her holed-up in the house her father left for her. The bills are mounting, the mail is piling up, and the cold phone calls from her mother are making Kathy even more depressed than she already is.

One morning, Kathy is informed that her house is being repossessed because of unpaid taxes, which she doesn't even owe. But the bureaucratic machine works too fast for her to stop it. She is evicted within twenty-four hours. A friendly cop (Eldard) gives her a few helpful tips and keeps an eye out for her during the crisis. Kathy gets stuck in an impossible to navigate maze of red tape.

Meanwhile, the house is being quickly auctioned for a quarter of its estimated value. Massoud Behrani (Kingsley) is a proud father and husband who fled from Iran with his family. He was Colonel in the army under the Shah. He recently married his daughter into a wealthy family but has financial worries of his own. He works two jobs, neither of which are worthy for a former Colonel. He is running out of money and can no longer sustain his current standard of living.

He bids on the repossessed house and is delighted when he hears that his purchase will make him in excess of $100,000 profit. It will be enough to pay for his son's college education and have some left over to rebuild his life.

The war starts here. Kathy uses everything in her power to try to reclaim the house... the law, intimidation, pity, morality, begging. She has been unjustly robbed of her only possession and will stop at nothing to get it back. She even starts to fall in love with the cop who helped her, and uses his badge and authority to gain an edge over the new inhabitants.

Massoud cannot give up on the only lifeline he has for his family. He sees it as his duty to defend the purchase, which by all accounts is a legal one.

The two parties clash over and over again in various ways which I will not spoil for those who haven't seen the film. Needless to say though, the results and consequences are headed toward inevitable tragedy.

First time director, Vadim Perelman, does a stellar job of conveying the mood from credits to credits. He really grasps the grave tone of the film and fills every scene with an air of intense magnitude. Viewers will really feel that something huge is on the line... this is an epic story of fierce determination and will power at odds with each other.

Connelly and Kingsley should both be considered for Oscars here. Connelly has churned out six recent performances that all dance with magnificence (Dark City - Waking the Dead - Requiem for a Dream - A Beautiful Mind - The Hulk - House of Sand and Fog). She is very clearly one of the very best we have, joining the very elite of our time. Her portrayal of Kathy Nicolo is a stunning tour-de-force that will leave you breathless. There is more drama in one solitary tear rolling down her cheek than in ten hours of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and orcs doing battle over a ring. She brought tears to my eyes.

Kingsley is almost as powerful as the stoic military man whose will and determination will not allow him to fail his family. I am sure he will get an Oscar nod for this performance.

The only thing that prevented this film from being one of the all time greats was the failure to strike a perfect balance between the warring factions. Some critics have claimed that the screenplay will have you at odds with yourself as you argue the merits of both sides. I think that would have made for a magical film. But I think the film slightly fails in that regard.

I have strong feelings as to who was in the right. Kathy had done nothing wrong whatsoever. Her only possible crime was lethargy. But the facts show that she DID NOT owe that money and therefore should never have lost that house. On the other hand, Massoud profits from another's misfortune and stubbornly refuses to do the right thing by returning the house at the same bargain price. He almost acts like a child who covers his ears and screams "La La La La La" in denial of the moral thing to do. Sure, it is unfortunate that he and his family are in this situation, but it is not an injustice.

Then there is the matter of the police officer who falls for Kathy. His actions are the most suspect in the film. Virtually everything he does after the initial scenes are vile and contemptible, even though his intentions are always good.

However, what truly pushed me over the edge into Kathy's corner were the final scenes. Again, I will not reveal what happens... but Massoud's final actions are the most selfish, chauvinistic, and cowardly of any character in recent memory. I knew I sided with Kathy before those final scenes, but I didn't think of Massoud as a horrible person until the closing moments. Some may disagree vehemently with that assessment.

Overall, the film is a splendid accomplishment for a first-time director. It will toy with your emotions and work them into a frenzy. I think this is one of the 10 best films of 2003, but it would have easily made my Top 3 if it had achieved the balance it was shooting for. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this thrilling drama which is sure to stir up some debate between all those who watch it.

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A- Richard Propes - B+ Jacob Hall -

Richard Propes' Comment

"The House of Sand & Fog" is a powerful film featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Ben Kingsley and a wonderful performance by Jennifer Connelly.

An abandoned wife is evicted from her house due to an invalid tax left unpaid. Sadly, the house is auctioned before she is unable to clear anything up legally...the house is sold to Behrani, played by Ben Kingsley. Behrani is a proud man...once a Colonel in the Iranian Army...now a man struggling to survive and maintain the trust and respect of his family. This house, which he buys for a very low price...will be his ticket to financial recovery and renewed family respect.

What happens between the young lady, Kathy, and Behrani is a series of conflicts that seem destined to evolve into tragedy.

The entire film is a series of emotionally and physically intense scenes of conflict. They are wrought with authentic emotion and revelation.
 

Jacob Hall's Comment

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