This is a tragedy of such scope that all the main characters either die, are imprisoned (with long time), or are left broken. The protagonist, Colonel Behrani, and the antagonist, Kathy, were locked in a conflict that evoked some sympathy for both, but an immature and impulsive County Deputy, with carnal motive, hijacks the plot and steers it toward horror. I stopped watching about three-fourths the way through, and then I thought there must be some coming twist in the plot, so I went back and watched to the end, with no relief to unmitigated downward spiral. Kingsley was riviting, but all things considered, I wish I had not wasted two hours on this movie.

This is as high as I can rate a show I'm not going to re-watch. There's nothing here that is particularly good.This show has some nice eye candy and very little else. The story is OK but it lacks any real kick to it. I guess it's a must see for the cinematically pretentious.

When I first saw this movie, I was truly blown away. I thought it was such a masterpiece. I must have been drunk or something. Upon repeated views, this movie has completely lost me. While the acting, score, and cinematography are fantastic, the motivations and actions of all the main characters are beyond stupid. In fact, all five of the main cast's actions just baffle me. Are these people on drugs? If so, can I have some? Seriously, I can't stand anybody in this movie-despite good to excellent acting. Connelly's character can go to hell. What a nitwit. Seriously, I've gone a few days without reading some mail, but the concept of ignoring letters from the county/city is just beyond the pail. Her bonehead move to ignore mail is even too stupid for an episode of "The Bold and the Beautiful." And, that's saying something.Ben Kingsley character is simply annoying, too. I mean you can't figure out how to get a better job? And, you were employed by the Shaw of Iran? Also, I like how he never saw the end was nigh for the Shaw. Give me a break. Ms. Cleo could have saw the revolution coming in the middle of her sleep. Also, that's not to mention that Kindgley's character is just stupid, as well. Working menial jobs to finance your daughter's BS wedding, financing your wife's lust for material garbage, and working for pride? I don't get it. Ya' could always tighten your belt, or your wife could get a job.And, don't even get me going on Ron Eldard's character. Where did they find this guy. He spends one night with the ditsy Connelly character and he's ready to run off with her and start harassing Kingsley's family. Get real! Also, Kingsley's kid has got to be one of the stupidest characters ever in any movie since maybe Ben Kingley's character in "A Sound of Thunder" (nice hair!).Finally, Kindgley's wife in this movie is about as watchable as "The Casandra Crossing." What a pain in the butt she is-at least Kingley's character mercifully ends her mopey existence. Her comments about Arabs and Gypsies were totally out of line. Give me another break! In the end, I couldn't care less about these deadbeat people in the least.I was supposed to feel sad, but I was glad to be rid of them. Good riddance. This movie has got to be one of the best examples of a movie that was so well made, but where you just could never relate to the actions of the cast. They were clueless, annoying, unsympathetic, and I'm not upset that the majority ended up dead. I think I'd enjoy watching Passolini's "Salo" more than this nonsense.

'House of Sand and Fog' is a very depressing film that revolves around a young troubled woman named Kathy and a down on their luck family of immigrants, the Behranis. The conflict between them arises out of a mistake on the part of the County and the tax department which end up having devastating consequences on the lives of these people.I think one of the main themes that gets explored in the film and what I connected with is how and the extent to which a sense of honour and self respect can drive a person's behaviour and make him/her stubborn. Kathy refuses to reveal her divorce and her sorry financial condition to her family because of this self respect. The Behranis at least at the initial stage of the film are putting on this facade of extravagance because of this self respect and because of their need and urge to not lose their honour in the eyes of society. The Behrani's had come to America with an idea of what the American Dream was about. The initial part of their life in America was spent in affluence and luxury. But even after their lives took a bad turn in a financial way, they feel the need to keep up this disguise of being a happy, well-to-do 'American' family. So much so that when Massoud tells his wife that they may have to move to a smaller, more ordinary house, it becomes a mentally shattering experience for her. In her eyes, moving to a new house, means going back to being an 'Arab' and relinquishing their new 'American'-ness. The sense of feeling like an outsider as an immigrant gets explored. On the other hand Kathy's problem lies in the shame of having undone the work that her departed father did on the house that she inherited. The film is an example of a director elevating a flawed premise through great storytelling. The tone that Vadim Perelman sets for the film is melodramatic. The dialogue is a bit theatrical. But Perelman remains consistent with that tone, so it didn't put me off. There are some great moments of visual flair like the scene where Massoud while he is checking out Kathy's apartment, notices a shining window in an otherwise pitch dark room, another great shot is the shot of Kathy in the bathtub with her reflection in the water. But what Perelman excels at the character scenes for the most part. He gets good performances out of the actors for the most.But the screenplay is a bit flawed in my mind which could be due to what's present in the book which the film is based on. The basic conflict that sets up the film is a bit unconvincing. Also the way the situations and circumstances constantly escalate in the last act of the film become increasingly bizarre, ridiculous and not believable. Perelman elevates this material by chewing the scenery a bit with his direction which in a way hides the weaknesses of the story.The acting for the most part is good. Ben Kingsley is powerful and commanding. Jennifer Connelly like she did in 'Requiem for a Dream' plays a broken character very well. Having said that there are a few scenes involving every actor that could come off as a bit fake, but I guess that goes along with the tone of the film. However Ron Eldard as the character of Lester was a bit boring. His characteristics, his mannerisms and his actions range from bland to really off-putting and maybe the writing has a lot to do with it.'House of Sand and Fog' is a depressing, heartbreaking film. It is not a great film in any sense of the word. It has a lot of screenplay and writing issues which may have their source in the original novel in terms of realism. It is a good exploration of pride and honour. But it's still certainly worth watching for the direction, the acting and the themes. Recommended.