The movie adaptation of The House of Sand and Fog was difficult for me to like. I started reading the book one day while killing time in a coffee shop. My son was at practice and I decided that a cup of tea would be nice. I saw this book on the bookshelf in the coffee shop and began to read it. It was fascinating to read. I only made it through the first chapter, which was told entirely from Behrani’s point of view. I didn’t find out anything other than his backstory and that he was planning to buy a house that was up for auction. I liked what I read so I decided to rent the movie. I think if I hadn’t read that first chapter, I wouldn’t have understood a single thing about the movie. I know nothing of the history of Iran, so that first chapter was just a crash course. The movie, as many movie adaptations do, relied upon the fact that the audience read the book. It glossed over the details of who was where and why. Some details were divulged as the story progressed, but I think that it relied too much on the fact that you read the book.
The movie itself was beautiful to watch. The panoramic views of the ocean, the fog rolling over hills, the sun setting, were all beautiful. But what exactly were they doing in the film? I don’t think I understood their use. Where they in the movie to evoke a feeling that I missed? There was one particular shot where the fog was spreading over the hills in thick tendrils. I thought that the shot was implying that something terrible was about to happen. Was that it’s purpose? Something terrible did happen, but I wasn’t really sure if that was the purpose of the shot or if it was to just look pretty.
I think there were moments in the movie that tried to evoke tragedy. By the end, I didn't feel that the story was tragic. Instead, I thought that the characters were rather stupid. The men seemed to be the bringers of doom and the women seemed to be witless victims, unable to control any part of their lives. I was especially disturbed by the fact that the daughter’s existence was completely forgotten by the end of the movie. She was married off and then forgotten. It was clear that she meant nothing to Behrani compared to her brother. Her brother and parents are all dead by the end of the film and no one seems to even consider her at all. And what about Lester’s family? They seemed completely disposable. Too bad his kids will not only have to grow up without a father, but also with an abent father who is a criminal. Maybe the book did a better job of following those story lines, but I’m not sure if I’m going to waste my time and find out after seeing the movie. Maybe I will skim through it, the next time I'm at the coffee shop and have nothing better to do.
at October 14, 2006 5:53 PM