or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
18 used & new from £1.99
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
House Of Sand And Fog [DVD] [2004]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

House Of Sand And Fog [DVD] [2004]

DVD ~ Jennifer Connelly
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
RRP: £14.99
Price: £3.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £11.01 (73%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, February 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
10 new from £1.99 7 used from £2.08 1 collectible from £4.99
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

House Of Sand And Fog [DVD] [2004] + In The Bedroom [DVD] [2002] + Little Children [DVD] [2006]
Total RRP: £50.97
Price For All Three: £9.94

Show availability and delivery details

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

House Of Sand And Fog [DVD] [2004]
88% buy the item featured on this page:
House Of Sand And Fog [DVD] [2004] 4.5 out of 5 stars (25)
£3.98
Waking The Dead [DVD] [1999]
4% buy
Waking The Dead [DVD] [1999] 4.6 out of 5 stars (7)
£2.98
Inventing The Abbotts [DVD] [1997]
3% buy
Inventing The Abbotts [DVD] [1997] 3.5 out of 5 stars (6)
£4.88
In The Bedroom [DVD] [2002]
3% buy
In The Bedroom [DVD] [2002] 4.4 out of 5 stars (7)
£2.98
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Ron Eldard, Frances Fisher, Kim Dickens
  • Directors: Vadim Perelman
  • Writers: Vadim Perelman, Andre Dubus III, Shawn Lawrence Otto
  • Producers: Chris Soldo, Jeremiah Samuels, Michael London, Nina R. Sadowsky
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English, Persian
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
  • DVD Release Date: 23 Aug 2004
  • Run Time: 121 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00022VM9Y
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,655 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Synopsis

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.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Waking The Dead [DVD] [1999]

Waking The Dead [DVD] [1999]

DVD ~ Billy Crudup
4.6 out of 5 stars (7)  £2.98
In The Bedroom [DVD] [2002]

In The Bedroom [DVD] [2002]

DVD ~ Tom Wilkinson
4.4 out of 5 stars (7)  £2.98
Inventing The Abbotts [DVD] [1997]

Inventing The Abbotts [DVD] [1997]

DVD ~ Joaquin Phoenix
3.5 out of 5 stars (6)  £4.88
House of Sand and Fog

House of Sand and Fog

by Andre Dubus III
4.4 out of 5 stars (38)  £5.99
Reservation Road [DVD] [2007]

Reservation Road [DVD] [2007]

DVD ~ Joaquin Phoenix
3.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £3.38
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

25 Reviews
5 star:
 (15)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars how the "American Dream" turns into the "American Nightmare", 22 Jun 2007
By H. Serkan SILAHSOR (Ankara, TURKEY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Before watching "House of Sand and Fog" I had lots of lofty expectations. As soon as the credits start rolling I thought that I was right, it hadn't got me wrong. The film tries to search an answer to that question: could somebody's plight be another's GAIN or PAIN? In fact, it depends on multitudes of what-if circumstances and the film tries to find its own answer.

Actually, this poignant story focuses on the vain pursuit of the so-called "American Dream" where sharp & bitter ingredients of morality, greediness, stubborness, rage and retribution are blended into an unavoidable tragedy. Seemingly it is about a moral and psychological battle fought for the possession of a house, wrongfully taken from its owner due to a bureaucratic mix-up. But, I think its meaning is much more deeper than it seems.

In reality, the "house" here should not be seen as a mere physical location, rather it is an ALLEGORY of need for stability, security, prosperity and liberty in a complex, cruel and ruthless world. The conflict between Kathy and Behrani makes both parties realize the emptiness of their material lives, and culminates in a series of tragic events after which nobody wins at the end.

Of course, like all good movies the story is not enough. In this sense, "House of Sand and Fog" depends too much on substance and style at the same time. Without outstanding performances of Ben Kingsley, Jennifer Connelly and Shohreh Aghdashloo, it might have easily degraded into a hokey & pokey soap-opera. As his first cinematic debut, Russian-born director Vadim Perelman does a groovy job by handling the cast in a skillful way that a veteran may find difficult to achieve.

Lastly, in terms of technical aspects, it goes far beyond my expectations: excellent wide-angle and panoramic shots; impressive close-ups by veteran cinematographer Roger Deakins, effectively capturing the most intense feelings of hope, anger, despair, sadness and happiness of both antagonists; and impeccable use of lights & versatile lenses add too much to the moodiness of the film.

Filled with lavish extras, "House of Sand and Fog" would be a worthwhile addition to your collection...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Lives of desperation collide, 31 July 2004
By Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: House of Sand and Fog [DVD] [2004] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
Penn, Crowe, Murray, Hopkins and the rest that might think they deserved the Best Actor Oscar for the 2003 film year. Forget it. The most deserving of that honor, Ben Kingsley, is right here in THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, a story of three lives that collide like a 3-way train wreck.

Kingsley is Massoud Amir Behrani, a former colonel in the service of the Iranian Shah. Forced to flee the country after the fall of the monarch, Behrani now works two jobs - convenience store clerk by night and road maintenance worker by day - to try and stem the slow drain of his savings being spent on the expensive lifestyle that his wife Nadi (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is used to. Perusing the paper, he sees an moneymaking opportunity in the public auction of a house confiscated by the county to pay back taxes. Massoud intends to buy the place on the cheap, fix it up, and sell it at the going market rate. Behrani is a proud man determined to regain his self-respect and the Good Life for his family. By maintaining a facade of affluence, he's already managed to marry his daughter off to another wealthy and respectable Iranian emigre. Now, he needs to put his son Esmail (Jonathan Ahdout) through college.

Unfortunately, the home is owned by Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly), who inherited it from her father eight months previous. Kathy is a recovering alcoholic, who failed to deal with the county bureaucracy when she had the chance, and now it's too late to stop the sale. She's evicted, has nowhere to go, no friends, no nearby family, no money, and is truly on the edge.

Into this volatile mix comes Lester Burdon (Ron Eldard), who's the police deputy assigned the uncomfortable task of tossing Nicolo into the street. Burdened by a marriage gone bad, Lester is seduced by Kathy's beauty and vulnerability, and he becomes her champion to the exclusion of common sense and professionalism. (With men, what else is new?)

Burdon aside, who's basically a fool guided by his gonads, the viewer will have to decide whom to back - Massoud or Kathy - because this intelligently scripted film doesn't favor one over the other even as the confrontation escalates beyond all bounds of rationality. There's no Hero or Villain. But for good fortune and good toilet training, you or I could be in either position.

In emotional intensity, even Sean Penn's performance in MYSTIC RIVER can't match Kingsley's here. There's a scene towards the end in a local hospital that'll knock your socks off, and for which alone Kingsley deserved Best Actor.

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG was one of the very best films of 2003, and deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars House Of Sand And Fog, 27 Aug 2004
Seldom does a film leave me emotionally drained yet yearning for more. I won't go into details about the plot as I feel these have been covered already by others.

I will however say that this is one of the most moving films of the last decade. There are many reasons for this but the core cast provide the solid base on which the film is built. Kingsley is note-perfect. Jennifer Connelly is also fantastic but the killer performance however comes from Shohreh Aghdashloo as Kinsley's wife. The Academy was mistaken in choosing Rene Zwellweger over her at this year's Oscars.

This is by no means a "Saturday-night-flick" but don't let that put you off. It is instead a master class in acting. Super photography and a fantastic score all add to the mix. Whatever you do this year, watch this film.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars the ending haunted me for days on end...
I would have preferred a happy ending. This movie earns 5 stars even though it was so deeply depressing because of the masterful acting and beautiful scene shots... Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2007 by Mary Chrapliwy

4.0 out of 5 stars A SIMPLE STORY OF HOW FAR ONE PERSON WILL GO
I've always had a soft spot for films that tell the story of desperate people that are reduced to desperate means. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2007 by stuart

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Good for It's Performances
House of Sand and Fog is a hopeless but convincing tragedy about contested houses and broken pasts. It is morbid and profound enough to keep the riff raff away while also being... Read more
Published on 16 July 2007 by Kasey Driscoll

4.0 out of 5 stars Seriously Haunting
It is a week now since I saw this movie and it still haunts me.
Part of the combined brilliance of writers, actors, directors and all associated mean that to me - it... Read more
Published on 27 April 2007 by Ajay

5.0 out of 5 stars Look again at the title
The film is not primarily about personal relationships, but about a whole cast of characters who are ultimately destroyed in their drive to retain or acquire a piece of property... Read more
Published on 22 April 2007 by John Whiting

5.0 out of 5 stars Affecting performances and an intriguing storyline
Amir Behrani (Ben Kingsley in an Oscar-nominated performance) is working two jobs, one as a road construction worker and the other as a clerk/manager in a convenience store. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2007 by Dennis Littrell

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning performances in intense human drama
When Andre Dubus wrote the novel on which the film is based he always envisaged Colonel Behrani having the physical attributes of Ben Kinsley, thereby handing the actor a perfect... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by pointone

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound and moving film
I feel sad for the person who didn't enjoy this magnificent, subtle film. It's worth watching for Kingsley's performance alone, a performance that is, I think, the best of his... Read more
Published on 30 April 2006 by D. Maceoin

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't know what the first reviewer was on
This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. The details in this film, the acting and the final twist just make this an absolutely awe inspiring movie. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2006 by Andrew Hanlon

2.0 out of 5 stars Bad story
The film could have been good, with an interesting premise of a story, reputable actors and nice backdrop (sand, fog and San Francisco). Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2006 by barbara10465

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums
  • drama  (178 discussions)

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject






i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.