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House of Sand and Fog 2003

A woman battling personal demons risks losing her home due to a legal error, while an Iranian immigrant strives for a new beginning by acquiring the property. As the woman’s situation grows increasingly dire, she confronts the immigrant, leading to a tense and tragic conflict. The story explores themes of loss, desperation, and the American dream, revealing the devastating consequences of misunderstanding and the fragility of hope.

A woman battling personal demons risks losing her home due to a legal error, while an Iranian immigrant strives for a new beginning by acquiring the property. As the woman’s situation grows increasingly dire, she confronts the immigrant, leading to a tense and tragic conflict. The story explores themes of loss, desperation, and the American dream, revealing the devastating consequences of misunderstanding and the fragility of hope.

Does House of Sand and Fog have end credit scenes?

No!

House of Sand and Fog does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of House of Sand and Fog

Explore the complete cast of House of Sand and Fog, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for House of Sand and Fog

See how House of Sand and Fog is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where House of Sand and Fog stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

71

Metascore

7.5

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

75%

TOMATOMETER

review

83%

User Score

TMDB

72

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate House of Sand and Fog Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of House of Sand and Fog with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


House of Sand and Fog Quiz: Test your knowledge of the 2003 film House of Sand and Fog with this challenging quiz.

What is Kathy Nicolo struggling with at the beginning of the movie?

Awards & Nominations for House of Sand and Fog

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Discover all the awards and nominations received by House of Sand and Fog, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how House of Sand and Fog and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


76th Academy Awards 2004

Ben Kingsley
Nomination

Actor in a Leading Role

Ben Kingsley
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Nomination

Actress in a Supporting Role

Shohreh Aghdashloo
Nomination

Music (Original Score)

9th Critics' Choice Awards 2004

Ben Kingsley
Nomination

Best Actor

Ben Kingsley
Jennifer Connelly
Nomination

Best Actress

Jennifer Connelly

10th Screen Actors Guild Awards 2004

Ben Kingsley
Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Ben Kingsley

61st Golden Globe Awards 2004

Ben Kingsley
Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor)

Ben Kingsley

19th Independent Spirit Awards 2004

Ben Kingsley
Nomination

Best Male Lead

Ben Kingsley
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Win

Best Supporting Female

Shohreh Aghdashloo
Nomination

Best First Feature

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for House of Sand and Fog

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Read the complete plot summary of House of Sand and Fog, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Abandoned by her husband, recovering drug addict Kathy Nicolo finds herself living on her own in a small house near the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. Despite receiving multiple eviction notices for overdue business taxes, she assumes there’s been a mix-up and ignores them. Her situation takes a turn when Sheriff’s Deputy Lester Burdon arrives to forcibly evict her, revealing that her home is about to be auctioned. Understanding her plight, Lester Burdon helps her pack and encourages her to seek legal help to reclaim her house.

Meanwhile, Massoud Behrani, a former Imperial Iranian Army colonel who fled to the United States, is struggling to support his family while maintaining the appearance of a successful businessman. He works various menial jobs but is determined to keep his family from shame, especially in front of his wife Nadereh, son Esmail, and daughter Soraya. Taking advantage of Kathy’s precarious situation, he purchases her house for a mere fraction of its true worth, intending to renovate and profit from it. When Kathy is evicted from her temporary motel stay and compelled to sleep in her car, she becomes increasingly determined to reclaim her home. She consults with an attorney, Connie Walsh, who informs her that due to the county’s blunder, they can return Massoud’s payment and restore her ownership.

However, as Massoud has already invested in renovations, he is adamant that he will not accept less than the upgraded value, a number the county is unwilling to cover. Connie Walsh advises Kathy that suing the county is her only recourse, albeit a lengthy process. When Kathy approaches Massoud to discuss a buy-back of the house, he suggests she pursue legal action but also threatens to sell it to someone else unless she can meet his price. Frustrated, she begins to harass his family in front of potential buyers.

In a moment of vulnerability, Kathy finds herself in a romantic relationship with Lester, who has abandoned his own family to be with her and sees himself as her protector. Under a false name, he resorts to intimidation, threatening Massoud with deportation unless he agrees to sell back the house. Realizing that Lester’s actions are tied to Kathy, Massoud involves Internal Affairs, leading to severe repercussions for Lester and an ultimatum for Kathy to cease her harassment.

When her struggles escalate, Kathy, in a moment of despair, attempts suicide with Lester’s gun, only to be saved by Massoud, who finds her incapacitated. His wife, Nadereh, intervenes when Kathy tries to take her life again with pills. This tragic turn of events only draws Lester deeper into a fit of rage, as he takes desperate measures to control the situation by locking the Behrani family in their bathroom until Massoud consents to relinquish the property.

As tensions reach a boiling point, Massoud agrees to sell the house back but demands that Kathy sign it over to him for a sum of money. He takes her to the county office to formalize the agreement, but outside, chaos erupts when Lester turns violent. Esmail attempts to intervene by seizing Lester’s weapon, leading to a disastrous misunderstanding with the police that results in him being shot instead.

In the aftermath, Massoud’s world is shattered as he begs for his son’s life, but tragically, Esmail does not make it. Overcome with grief and despair, Massoud murders Nadereh by lacing her tea with pills before taking his own life by suffocation, holding onto his wife’s hand. When Kathy discovers them, she is powerless to save them. As paramedics remove the bodies, a police officer asks her whether the house is still hers. After a heavy pause filled with sorrow and resignation, she must admit that it is not.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for House of Sand and Fog

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from House of Sand and Fog. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


House of Sand and Fog trailer

House of Sand and Fog Trailer (2021)

Cars Featured in House of Sand and Fog

See 27 more

Explore all cars featured in House of Sand and Fog, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Buick

1988

Regal

Cadillac

1980

Seville

Caterpillar

12

Chevrolet

1986

Caprice

Chevrolet

1987

Celebrity

Chevrolet

1985

Chevy Van

Datsun

1979

280ZX

Dodge

1992

Caravan

ETI

2002

14 TrSF

Ford

1987

F-150

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


based on novelsuicidedepressed womanfamily abandonmentsex for favordomineering husbandshady brotherfruit bowlstubbornnesstax officealcoholicrest roomsheriffmourning dovehouse deckreference to the caspian seastorage shedforeclosuretrauma unitcamera shot from inside a car trunkslow motion scenewatching tvprologuescene during opening creditsfemale rear nudityhusband murders his wifemurder suicidesuicide by asphyxiationshot by policefarsimilitary uniformcoloneleviction noticebirdseye camera shotband the musical grouptragedy dramawriter cameo appearanceliving in a carhusband poisons his wifehusband slaps his wifeunfaithfulnessstepping on a nailhouseiranianauctionhomemarriagefogpolice officerwedding

Articles, Reviews & Explainers About House of Sand and Fog

Stay updated on House of Sand and Fog with in-depth articles, critical reviews, and ending explainers. Explore hidden meanings, major themes, and expert insights into the film’s story and impact.


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