House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Director:

Vadim Perelman

Writers (WGA):

Andre Dubus III (novel)
Vadim Perelman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 December 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Some dreams can't be shared.

Plot:

An abandoned wife is evicted from her house and starts a tragic conflict with her home's new owners.

Plot Keywords:

House | Auction | Marriage | Home | Fog

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Connelly	...	Kathy
Ben Kingsley	...	Behrani
Ron Eldard	...	Lester
Frances Fisher	...	Connie Walsh
Kim Dickens	...	Carol Burdon
Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Nadi
Jonathan Ahdout	...	Esmail
Navi Rawat	...	Soraya
Carlos Gómez	...	Lt. Alvarez
Kia Jam	...	Ali
Jaleh Modjallal	...	Yasmin
Samira Damavandi	...	Little Soraya
Matthew Simonian	...	Little Esmail
Namrata Singh Gujral	...	Wedding Guest (as Namrata S. Gurjal-Cooper)
Nasser Faris	...	Wedding Guest (as Al Faris)
Mark Chaet	...	Wedding Guest
Marco Rodríguez	...	Mendez (as Marco Rodriguez)
Al Rodrigo	...	Torez
Aki Aleong	...	Tran
Joyce Kurtz	...	Kathy's Mom
Scott N. Stevens	...	County Official
Ken Kerman	...	Locksmith
Scott Kinworthy	...	Deputy Trainee
Tom Benick	...	Hotel Security
Samuel Hart	...	Elevator Man
Jackie Adhout	...	Elevator Woman
Spencer Garrett	...	Auctioneer
Cooper Thornton	...	Gary
Isabelle James	...	Teenage Girl
Bonita Friedericy	...	Motel Manager
David Carrera	...	Carpenter
Michael Papajohn	...	Carpenter
Joe Howard	...	Appraiser
Aaron Frazier	...	Courier
Dan Brinkle	...	Husband Buyer
Yan Lin	...	Wife Buyer
Andre Dubus III	...	Myers
Max Jansen Weinstein	...	Nate
Ashley Edner	...	Bethany (as Ashley Louise Edner)
Ray Abruzzo	...	Frank
Tom Reynolds	...	Gas Station Worker
Jose L. Vasquez	...	Arresting Officer (as Jose Vasquez)
Matthew Waite	...	Arresting Officer (as Matt Waite)
Pamela Shaddock	...	Nurse
Frank Gallegos	...	Prison Guard (as Frank Gallego)
Karl Makinen	...	Officer at End
Zoran Radanovich	...	Sergei
Markus Baldwin	...	Young Husband
Brian Reed Garvin	...	Fat Man
Dennison Samaroo	...	Doctor
Elton Ahi	...	Wedding Singer
Shani Rigsbee	...	Wedding Singer
Andy Madadian	...	Wedding Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leslie Yeransian	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)

Directed by
Vadim Perelman

Writing credits (WGA)
Andre Dubus III		(novel)
Vadim Perelman		(screenplay) and
Shawn Lawrence Otto		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael London	....	producer
Shawn Lawrence Otto	....	co-producer
Vadim Perelman	....	producer
Nina R. Sadowsky	....	executive producer
Jeremiah Samuels	....	co-producer
Chris Soldo	....	associate producer
Stewart Till	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins

Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Mary Tricia Wood		(as Tricia Wood)

Production Design by
Maia Javan

Art Direction by
Drew Boughton

Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena

Costume Design by
Hala Bahmet

Makeup Department
Judy Chin	....	key makeup artist
Kris Evans	....	makeup artist: Mr. Kingsley
Kathrine Gordon	....	key hair stylist
Lori Rozman	....	assistant hair stylist
Betty Lou Skinner	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sven E. Fahlgren	....	post-production supervisor
Gina Fortunato	....	production supervisor
Kevin Halloran	....	production supervisor
Jeremiah Samuels	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Greg Hale	....	second assistant director
Stephanie Kime	....	second second assistant director
Cliff T.E. Roseman	....	first assistant director
Chris Soldo	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ron Ashmore	....	paint supervisor
Peter Bankins	....	property master
J. Michael Glynn	....	set dresser
Lance Gunnin	....	general foreman
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator (as Steve Hagberg)
Sarah Harwich	....	construction purchaser
Sean Lyons	....	on-set paint
Jonah Markowitz	....	art department
Christopher Morente	....	greensperson
Todd Morris	....	on-set dresser
Dan Ondrejko	....	greens coordinator
Stuart Rankine	....	assistant property master
Grant Samson	....	lead man
Nithya Shrinivasan	....	assistant art director
Thomas Spencer	....	set dresser
Robert Stover	....	buyer
Rick C. Taplin	....	art department assistant
Cheree Welsh	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Colin Cooper	....	adr recordist
Susan Dudeck	....	sound editor
Christopher Eakins	....	sound assistant
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator
William B. Kaplan	....	production sound mixer (as Bill Kaplan)
Tateum Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Peggy Names	....	sound utility
Kevin O'Connell	....	supervising sound mixer
Jeremy Peirson	....	sound editor
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Sharp	....	sound re-recordist
Greg ten Bosch	....	foley supervisor
Ron Vignone	....	assistant sound editor
Cary Weitz	....	boom operator
Susan Dawes	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects director
Michael Lantieri	....	special effects coordinator
Brandon K. McLaughlin	....	special effects
Christopher A. Suarez	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Ozzie Carmona	....	digital compositor
Brad Kalinoski	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Greg Anthony	....	stunt double: Esmail
Craig Branham	....	stunts
Wendi Bromley	....	stunt double: Jennifer Connelly
Bud Davis	....	stunts
Jewel Donohue	....	stunt double: Kathy
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunt double: Jennifer Connelly (as Diana Lupo)
Chris Monberg	....	stunts
Chris O'Hara	....	stunts
David D. Renaud	....	stunt double: Behrani (as David Renaud)
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Scott Sproule	....	stunt coordinator
Sonny Tipton	....	stunts
Jose L. Vasquez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Barrett	....	electrician
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Josh Blakeslee	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Earl R. Cantrell	....	electrician
Will Dearborn	....	camera loader
Julian de la Pena	....	electrician
Seong Dilg	....	dolly grip
Clinton Dougherty	....	camera operator
Andrew Dumas	....	additional second assistant camera
Nersi Elahi	....	camera production assistant
Kenn Ferro	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Ken Ferro)
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Quinn Grove	....	best boy grip
Rick Grover	....	grip
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Jimmy Harritos	....	rigging electrician
Paul Janossy	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jesse Kaplan	....	video assistant
Mako Koiwai	....	assistant camera: second unit
Chris Napolitano	....	chief lighting technician
Matthew A. Petrosky	....	assistant camera: time-lapse photography, second unit
Sean Smith	....	electrician
David Stockton	....	director of photography: second unit
Chuck Weiss	....	video assist operator
Scott C. Williman	....	rigging
Andi Ruane	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting
Jennifer L. Smith	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	assistant costume designer
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor
Jill Korengold	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Phillip J. Bartell	....	assistant editor
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Mike Bellamy	....	final colorist
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Kevin Du Toit	....	assistant post-production
Helen Hand	....	first assistant editor
Jeffrey C. Price	....	editorial production assistant
Shannyn Riba	....	apprentice editor
Dana E. Glauberman	....	additional editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Elton Ahi	....	composer: songs
Ramiro Belgardt	....	music editor
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Jim Henrikson	....	supervising music editor
Todd Homme	....	executive music supervisor
James Horner	....	conductor
James Horner	....	orchestrator
Joe Lisanti	....	music editor: temp music
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring assistant
Andy Madadian	....	song music
Julyce Monbleaux	....	music supervisor
Jen Monnar	....	assistant music editor
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer
Shani Rigsbee	....	song music
Jay Selvester	....	scoring assistant

Transportation Department
Randy Burke	....	driver
Daniel Davis	....	driver: base camp generator
John Lybrand	....	transportation
Bill McCance	....	driver
Chad Moore	....	production driver
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver (as Jay Reece)
Don Violett	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Martin Allen	....	location scout
Derek Avila	....	location scout
Luke Bishop	....	assistant: Mr. Kingsley
Jean Costello	....	assistant production coordinator
Maria DeVane	....	post-production accountant
Marty Elfalan	....	assistant accountant (as Martin Elfalan)
Arash Esfandi	....	production assistant
Timothy Falconer	....	location manager (as Tim Falconer)
Robert Foulkes	....	co-location manager
Jesec Griffin	....	production assistant
Jill Hahn	....	payroll accountant
Marc W. Havener	....	set production assistant
Judy Heinzen	....	key assistant location manager
Doris Hellmann	....	production accountant
Travis Hills	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Hilton	....	assistant: Mr. London
Jay Johnson	....	main title design
Andrew C. Keeter	....	location manager (as Andy Keeter)
Jay Y. Lee	....	production assistant
Steven Maines	....	stand-in
Lisa Markou	....	digital coordinator
Randy McKenney	....	stand-in
Matthew Michaud	....	assistant: Mr. Perelman
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
Shelly Morita	....	assistant: Ms. Connelly
Tien Nguyen	....	assistant: Mr. Samuels
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor
Jim Roberts	....	medic
Peter Robinson	....	assistant: Mr. Perelman
Chad Saxton	....	set production assistant
Sara Scarritt	....	production coordinator (as Sarah Scarritt)
Yovel Schwartz	....	production assistant: San Francisco
Christina Sibul	....	production executive
Emre Sonmez	....	location scout
Louise Spencer	....	unit publicist
Gail Stempler	....	location scout: San Francisco
Pavel Sterba	....	key assistant location manager
Jack Stern	....	studio teacher
Val Tasso	....	stand-in: Jonathan Ahdout
Leif Tilden	....	assistant location manager
Gerald A. Vitatoe Jr.	....	second assistant accountant
Steven Jetton	....	layout board (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG
• Bisgrove Entertainment
• Cobalt Media Group

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Bioscop (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Filmax S.A. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Humax Pictures (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Mediasoft Films (2005) (South Korea) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Pinema (2003) (Turkey) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2004) (Romania) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title and Art Studio (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Boone's Animals for Hollywood  animal handlers
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr group
• Mario's Catering  catering
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Sony Pictures Studios  post sound services provided by
• Sony, Cary Grant Theatre  sound mixed at
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recorded and mixed at
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by (uncredited)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence/disturbing images, language and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Persian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | USA:R (certificate #40189) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (uncut) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

In 2009 Navi Rawat (Soroya) admitted that her wedding dress costume was so big and complicated to take on and off she had to have somebody hold it up for when she needed to use the bathroom.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The first time Kathy drives to the house, we see the view of her sitting in her car through the windshield. As the camera tracks around to the driver's door, the camera operator is reflected in the windshield near the rear view mirror.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Officer at End: Are you Kathy Nicolo?
Kathy: Yeah.
Officer at End: Is this your house?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Ring Two (2005)

Soundtrack:

Soghati

Incredible Comment On Cultural Gap In America

First of all, anyone who says that s/he didn't "get the point of this movie" needs to go back to watching movies produced solely by Jerry Brukheimer because the point could not be more apparent to anyone of any intelligence. House of Sand and Fog is a commentary on the cultural gap between American-born citizens and immigrants from war-ridden countries such as Iran. Unfortunately that gap is shown for what it is: wider than ever.

The character of Kathy is portrayed brilliantly by Jennifer Connelly as an emotionally unstable young woman caught up in the turmoil of losing both her husband and her family's home within eight months of each other. Kathy ignorantly fails to realize that the house her dead father has left her brother and her is in jeopardy of being put up for auction due to unpaid taxes. Kathy comprehends, too late, that the thirty years it took her father to pay off their home has been in vain when it is sold to an Iranian family shortly after auction. Her character is pinned against Ben Kingsley's Colonel Behrani when Behrani buys Kathy's auctioned house in order to return his own family to a sense of stability. The audience is conflicted by its empathy for both character's need to satisfy his and her own pride in family and the preservation of his and her heritage.

The catalyst for the two characters' conflict with each other is drawn from the supporting character of Officer Lester (Ron Eldard), a representation of the ignorance and lack of empathy some Americans feel towards people whose lives have led them to seek better ones in the United States. While Behrani's main motive is to protect his family and give it a sense of security, Lester puts his own selfish pleasures before the wellbeing of his own family. Behrani and Lester are complete opposites, Behrani clearly the nobler. It is clear why Kingsley chose to do this role: Kingsley's portrayal of an Iranian refugee is both superb and honest, not to mention Oscar-worthy. The film shows that there are greater sacrifices in this world than those materialistic in nature. Ironically many Americans might find that point hard to absorb, probably the reason why they are so quick to write off House of Sand and Fog as "one of the worst movies" they have ever seen. House of Sand and Fog is a film, not a movie. Those who give this film a thumbs down need to get a dictionary and distinguish the difference between the two terms. Andre Dubus III's novel has been done justice. Thumbs up.