House of Sand and Fog

House of Sand & Fog is not a film for everyone. Those who yearn for a happy ending and a tidy resolution should look somewhere else. This is the most devastating and draining drama to come out of Hollywood for a long while.

Based on the acclaimed novel from Andre Dubus III it tells of two characters. Kathy, played by Jennifer Connelly, is a recent divorcee and recovering alcoholic struggling with depression. Massoud, played by Ben Kingsley, is a former Iranian colonel hoping to provide his family with the luxurious lifestyle they were used to in Iran by working tirelessly at two jobs. A clerical error charging Kathy with taxes she doesn't owe means that her house is seized from her and put up for auction. The house has emotional value as her late father worked his whole life to own it. Massoud spots the auction and buys the house as an investment opportunity. Kathy, now living in her car, gains help from a reckless cop to get her house back.

There is a sense of moral ambiguity running through the film as both of the characters are legally within their rights so they both have the audience's sympathy. As Kathy loses her house she descends into further depression yet Massoud is desperate to provide for his wife and son. The sometimes slow pace is never dull and makes it impossible for the viewer not to become emotionally engaged in the escalating story. It's clear from the start that we are heading towards tragedy, yet what happens on the way there constantly surprises.

Helping to further the emotional depth of the story are three great performances. Ben Kingsley delivers a sometimes chilling yet easily empathetic performance of a man struggling to regain his authority and reputation. Jennifer Connelly plays a lovable loser whose gradual decline back into alcohol and her regret for letting her father's house out of her hands is highly believable. Finally Shohreh Aghdashloo delivers a restrained performance of integrity as a wife torn between her husband and the house-owner.

The gradual pace allows for some beautiful cinematography showing, unsurprisingly, foggy landscapes as a metaphor for the plot. The music is haunting and may at times seem overdramatic for what seems like a relatively small story but when the final half hour kicks in, it becomes more apparent. The tragic conclusion is desperately inevitable and heartbreakingly powerful. Without wishing to ruin what happens, the sudden events which take place are horrifying and deliver a massive emotional response.

House of Sand & Fog is a remarkable, heart-wrenching drama about broken dreams and cultural ignorance. It's a moving and often very grim film which isn't an easy ride. The ending is strong stuff that will stay with you for days. A very early contender for film of the year?