what is the house of sand and fog about

Is House of sand and fog based on a true story?

Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil.

Why is House of sand and fog so popular?

Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil. But no. It stands with integrity and breaks our hearts. The story is simply told.

When was House of sand and Fog published?

House of Sand and Fog is a 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III. It was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2000, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, and was adapted into the 2003 film, House of Sand and Fog.

What is the Dewey Decimal of House of sand and fog?

Dewey Decimal. House of Sand and Fog is a 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III. It was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2000, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, and was adapted into the 2003 film, House of Sand and Fog. The novel begins by introducing Massoud Behrani, a former colonel exiled from Iran after the Iranian Revolution.

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What does Fog represent in House of Sand and Fog?

Conversely, the fog represents trouble. This is witnessed early on when, during one of their first encounters, Lester looks out over the bay and remarks to Kathy that the “fog's coming in” (89). Here, fog foreshadows the trouble that unfolds throughout the novel.

Is House of Sand and Fog sad?

This film, DreamWorks' big Oscar candidate, was judged a disappointment by the critics, and audiences didn't flock to it. But it's a superb, grinding, relentlessly sad story of two people trying to regain their heritage, flawlessly acted by Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly.

What is the point of House of Sand and Fog?

The story concerns the battle between a young woman and an immigrant Iranian family over the ownership of a house in Northern California, which ultimately leads to the destruction of four lives.

Is House of Sand and Fog a good movie?

Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil. But no. It stands with integrity and breaks our hearts.

Who is the main character in House of Sand and Fog?

BehraniBen KingsleyKathyJennifer ConnellyConnie WalshFrances FisherCarol BurdonKim DickensEsmailJonathan AhdoutNadiShohreh AghdashlooHouse of Sand and Fog/CharactersThe novel begins by introducing Massoud Behrani, a former Iranian air force colonel who fled from Iran after the Iranian Revolution. Because his background is military rather than professional, he has not been able to establish a career in the US and works as a trash collector and convenience store clerk.

What happens to Kathy at Colonel Behrani house?

Kathy drives away and calls her brother from a phone booth, intending to ask for his help but he cuts her off. She then goes to a liquor store, where she purchases several bottles. She decides to burn the house down. If she can't have it, then neither can Behrani.

How many children are in the Behrani family?

House of Sand and Fog follows Massoud Behrani, a former Iranian colonel who fled to America with his wife and two children after the Iranian Revolution, and Kathy Nicolo, a recovering addict whose husband recently left her, as they compete for ownership of a one-story bungalow in the beachside Bay Area town of Corona.

Who is Lester Burdon in House of Sand and Fog?

Lester Burdon: A tall man, Lester is a Field Training Officer with the Sheriff's Department near San Francisco. Lester is trapped in a loveless marriage to Carol, a marriage he's bored with after nine years.

Is dog a sad movie?

While “Dog” is often funny, it's not a comedy. Though it's often sad, it's not a tragedy either. Instead, it's a sensitive, engaging, realistic look at what happens when a soldier's toughest battle starts when they come home. It's not the movie its marketing would have you believe it is.

Why is Requiem for a Dream Rated R?

Both versions of this film have enough language, explicit sex, violence, blood, and nudity (included female full-frontal) to merit an R.

When did House of Sand and Fog come out?

December 26, 2003 (USA)House of Sand and Fog / Release date

Is dog a sad movie?

While “Dog” is often funny, it's not a comedy. Though it's often sad, it's not a tragedy either. Instead, it's a sensitive, engaging, realistic look at what happens when a soldier's toughest battle starts when they come home. It's not the movie its marketing would have you believe it is.

Who wrote House of Sand and Fog?

Andre Dubus IIIHouse of Sand and Fog / AuthorAndre Dubus III is the author of Gone So Long, Dirty Love, The Garden of Last Days, House of Sand and Fog (a #1 New York Times bestseller, Oprah's Book Club pick, and finalist for the National Book Award), and Townie, winner of an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature.

How does Kathy die in the house?

Despondent, she becomes drunk and attempts suicide in the driveway with Lester's sidearm. Massoud finds her drunkenly unable to discharge the gun, and brings her inside. Kathy tries to kill herself again with pills, but Nadereh saves her. As she and her husband carry Kathy to the bedroom, Lester breaks in and sees Kathy unconscious. In a xenophobic rage, Lester locks the Behranis in their own bathroom, refusing to let them out until Massoud agrees to relinquish the house. Massoud offers to sell the house and will give Kathy the money in exchange for her putting the house in his name. Lester takes Massoud to the county office to finalize the transaction.

What happens when Lester breaks in to see Kathy?

As she and her husband carry Kathy to the bedroom, Lester breaks in and sees Kathy unconscious. In a xenophobic rage, Lester locks the Behranis in their own bathroom, refusing to let them out until Massoud agrees to relinquish the house.

What did Lester tell Kathy about her house?

Telling Kathy that her home is to be auctioned off , Lester feels sympathy for her, helps her move out, and advises her to seek legal assistance to regain her house. Former Imperial Iranian Army colonel Massoud Amir Behrani, who fled his homeland with his family, now lives in the Bay Area working multiple menial jobs.

What does Kathy do to convince Massoud to sell her house?

Kathy tries to convince Massoud to sell back the house; he too advises her to sue the county and promises to sell her the house back if she comes up with the money, but she retaliates by beginning to harass him and his family in front of potential buyers.

Where is Kathy Nicolo?

Abandoned by her husband, recovering drug addict Kathy Nicolo, living alone in a small house near the San Francisco Bay Area , ignores eviction notices erroneously sent to her for nonpayment of business taxes. Assuming the misunderstanding was cleared up, she is surprised when Sheriff's Deputy Lester Burdon arrives to forcibly evict her.

Who shoots Esmail instead of Lester?

Outside the office, Lester begins to manhandle Massoud and Esmail seizes Lester's gun and aims it at him. Massoud draws the attention of police officers who misinterpret the situation and shoot Esmail instead of Lester. Massoud is arrested but is released after Lester confesses and is incarcerated.

Who reprimands Lester for leaving his family alone?

Aware that Lester was acting on Kathy's behalf, Massoud reports this to Internal Affairs, who severely reprimand Lester, and furiously warns Kathy to leave his family alone. Kathy calls her brother Frank for help, but cannot bring herself to admit that she is homeless.

Storyline

An emotionally broken woman, Kathy, suddenly finds herself homeless after her house is wrongly repossessed and auctioned. Seeking respite from his marriage, Lester, a sympathetic sheriff's deputy comes to the aid of Kathy and becomes intimately involved in her situation.

Did you know

Author Andre Dubus III received more than one hundred offers from movie studios who wanted to make his book into a movie.

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By what name was House of Sand and Fog (2003) officially released in India in English?

When was House of Sand and Fog made?

House of Sand and Fog is a 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III. It was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2000, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, and was adapted into the 2003 film, House of Sand and Fog.

Who adapted House of Sand and Fog?

Andre Dubus III's second novel, House of Sand and Fog was adapted to film in 2003 by a Ukrainian-Americana director by the name of Vadim Perelman. Luckily, Perelman enlisted the help of Roger Deakins A.S.C., who's really just a wizard behind the camera.

Why was Kathy Nicolo evicted?

Meanwhile, Kathy Nicolo, a former drug addict who is still recovering from her husband abruptly leaving her, has been evicted from her home, long owned by her family, because of unpaid taxes the county wrongfully claimed she owed. When the house is placed for auction, Behrani seizes the opportunity and purchases it.

What is the unusual situation in the book "Behrani"?

It is an unusual situation with all parties being victims of an unresolvable issue with the county. Given what we know about Behrani he isn’t who Kathy thinks he is. Kathy isn’t really who he thinks she is either. As the plot advances we also find out that Lester isn’t who anyone thinks he is either. Of course, Kathy is like nitroglycerin in his head.

Who comes in as the deputy assigned to be sure Kathy gets out of the home that's no longer hers?

Lester comes in as the deputy assigned to be sure Kathy gets out of the home that's no longer hers. Love at first sight! Lame-o Lester and Loser Kathy...surely the white trash Romeo and Juliet!

Is House of Sand and Fog a genre novel?

To say the least, Andre Dubus' novel holds your attention, and forces you to keep reading, even though you can probably guess that things won't end amicably. House of Sand and Fog is a genre novel - a contrived culture clash - burnished by Dubus' literary pedigree.

Does Andre Dubus III add snakes to the plot?

It always amazes me how one little mistake can lead to such complete chaos. Andre Dubus III keeps adding snakes to the plot until it is all so twisted together that only the sword of Alexander the Great will untie it. Dubus reveals all the characters, even the second tier characters, with such depth that I felt like I know these people. My mind even now is still weighing all the ramifications from everyone’s decisions as if this is an ongoing crisis that is still yet to be resolved.

What year was House of Sand and Fog?

PS3554.U2652 H68 1999. House of Sand and Fog is a 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III. It was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2000, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, and was adapted into the 2003 film, House of Sand and Fog .

How did Kathy die in the house?

In desperation, Kathy goes to the house and attempts to commit suicide twice, first trying to shoot herself and then overdosing on pills. The Behranis manage to stop her both times and she is put in a bedroom to rest. Lester breaks into the house and locks the Behranis in their bathroom at gunpoint until they agree to return the house to Kathy. When Lester takes the Behranis to the county office, Behrani's son, Esmail, retrieves the gun and is shot by authorities. When Behrani finds out in the hospital that his son has died, he is overcome with grief and rage at both Lester and Kathy. He returns to the house to find Kathy still there and attempts to strangle her. Believing Kathy to be dead, he dons his Army uniform and suffocates both himself and his wife, who had been asleep in the bedroom.

Why was Kathy Nicolo evicted?

Meanwhile, Kathy Nicolo, a former drug addict who is still recovering from her husband abruptly leaving her, has been evicted from her home, long owned by her family, because of unpaid taxes the county wrongfully claimed she owed.

What is the story of House of Sand and Fog about?

A story is about people who behave. To admire a story you must be willing to listen to the people and observe them, and at the end of "House of Sand and Fog," we have seen good people with good intentions who have their lives destroyed because they had the bad luck to come across a weak person with shabby desires.

Is House of Sand and Fog a story?

But I sense that the essential integrity has been defended. "House of Sand and Fog" relates not a plot with its contrived ups and downs but a story. A plot is about things that happen. A story is about people who behave.

Does Massoud have memories?

And they are a reminder. Yes, Massoud has memories, of the good life they led and their shore cottage in Iran. Kathy has memories, too. The house was left to her and her brother when their father died. The brother lives in the East, sometimes lends her money, is not sure he believes she is clean and sober.

Does House of Sand and Fog take sides?

It's so rare to find a movie that doesn't take sides. Conflict is said to be the basis of popular fiction, and yet here is a film that seizes us with its first scene and never lets go, and we feel sympathy all the way through for everyone in it. To be sure, they sometimes do bad things, but the movie understands them and their flaws. Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil. But no. It stands with integrity and breaks our hearts.

Is House of Sand and Fog based on a true story?

Like great fiction, "House of Sand and Fog" sees into the hearts of its characters, and loves and pities them. It is based on a novel by Andre Dubus II, and there must have been pressure to cheapen and simplify it into a formula of good and evil. But no. It stands with integrity and breaks our hearts. Advertisement.

House Of Sand And Fog

An Iranian immigrant, has spent most of his savings trying to enhance his daughter's chances of a good marriage. Once she is married, he spends the remaining funds on a house at an auction, unwittingly putting himself and his family in the middle of a legal tussle with the house's former owner.

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There is no happy ending here. You will feel the pain of all involved. And you will root for all them at the same time or interchangeably (not including the deputy). The acting is superb. This is my second time.

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