Although we have discussed this film in class and online, there are still areas worth a more thorough examination. Select one of the following prompts below and respond in a responsible and thoughtful manner.
1. In the movie, the house in dispute is not just a house. It also symbolizes different things for Kathy and Mr. Behrani. What does the house symbolize for each of them?
2. There are several instances of bird imagery (verbal and /or visual) in the film. Describe three instances of this imagery in the film and explain its significance.
3. Compare and contrast the immigrant experiences of Baba and Amir (Kite Runner) with those of the Behrani family (House of Sand and Fog). Be sure to include both similarities and differences that go beyond the superficial.
4. Why did Colonel Behrani kill himself and his wife?
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4.
ReplyDeleteColonel Behrani and his family were Iranian refugees who escaped to America and tried to have a better life. Unfortunately, because of Behrani’s investment in a seized property, the family was now constantly being harassed by a police officer (Lester) and the previous owner of the house (Kathy). After many declinations for the return of the house, Kathy became mentally unstable and Lester became enthralled and decided to take matters into his own hands eventually causing the death of Esmail, Behrani’s son. Witnessing his son’s death, Behrani felt like he no longer had a reason to live because his daughter was married to a wealthy family, his wife didn’t really have a big say on things, and he was only saving money to send Esmail to a University. Also, Behrani couldn’t tell his wife the devastating news of the loss of her son so he committed murder/ suicide to save face and “return to his home.”
1. The house in the movie symbolizes many things for for both Cathy and the Colonel. For Cahty, she did not want to let go of her dad who paid off the house in 30 years. He worked most of his life for that house and he loved it and she managed to ruin it in 8 months. She felt as though if she could keep the house then she could keep everything from falling apart. She did not consider the Colonel and his family and what the house may have meant for them all she thought about was herself. The Colonel wanted the house in order to get ahead in life and offer his family a better life. He wanted to give his son the best education and give his wife a good life not living paycheck by paycheck. He even says"things are not as they appear" as to explain how he was not rich although it may have appeared that he was. His house also reminded him and his wife of the old house the used to own in their homeland that would overlook the sea. This brought back memories and reminded them how happy they used to be.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the film, the Behrani family is currently living in their homeland, Iran. They have a nice "bungalow" with a phenomenal backyard view of the ocean. We see the mother and daughter on the beach running, seemingly free with no worries, along the water. Above them is a small flock of birds, elaborating that where they are at that moment in time is a place of peace and tranquility. The birds in this scene represent the freedom the Behrani family have, that they could fly anywhere they wished, whenever they wished. But these birds are flying in a circular motion. This plot of direction may portray that the Behrani's have the freedom to go wherever they please, but they do not want to leave that bungalow since that is the place where they find the most peace. Another scene that we see where birds are present is towards the end of the film, when Kathy is walking along the dock by the water. We see another flock of birds swimming and flying about, but we also see one bird floating dead in the water. This is an excellent foreshadowing scene because it gives a hint as to what is going to happen. The flock of birds represent the Behrani family and the one bird that has died must represent young Esmail, who was wrongly and mistakenly murdered later in the film. The bird's corpse shows that the possible solution to the conflict over the house that could have occurred does not, resulting in the tragic death of the Behrani's. The bird did not have to die, yet it does, along with Esmail. He did not have to die either. One last piece of imagery based on birds was the scene where Colonel Behrani talks to Esmail. He states "Pesaram, she (Kathy) is a bird, a broken one. Your grandfather used to say that a bird which flies into your house is an angel." When saying this, the Behrani's agree to take Kathy in and restore her back to health after two attempted suicides. But Lester never believes the family when they plead their innocence which infuriates both Lester and the Colonel more and more. This arising anger leads to the death of Esmail, since Lester put his hands on Behrani out of anger- for the last time. Esmail has had enough, and draws Lester's own gun on him. Then Esmail is shot and killed by a trigger happy policeman standing by. Therefore in retrospect, the proverb has a contradiction to itself since the Behrani's attempted to look over the broken bird Kathy and the result was their death. Then again, their death could be seen as a blessing because their lives were obviously not going to get better, with nowhere to go, that death is the only thing that can set them free. To bring them to the peaceful bungalow that they only wanted since the beginning.
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ReplyDeleteAs we read the novel Kite Runner and also watch the movie House of Sand and Fog, I noticed several similarities as well as differences among the characters of both stories. In the novel The Kite Runner, we are introduced to the lives of Amir and his father Baba. In the movie House of Sand and Fog we meet the Behrani family. Both of these families experience changes in their lives as they move from their countries of origin to America. In the case of Amir and Baba, they flee to America from Afghanistan as the Russians invade the country and a war breaks out. While living in Afghanistan, Amir and his father enjoy their lives as one of the wealthiest families living in Khabul; this is similar to the way the Behranis use to live when they were back in Iran. Mr. Behrani had a big house and for his daughter’s wedding, he made sure he hosted the biggest party he could possibly afford. However, in both stories, we experienced how both families came to America and their lifestyle changed completely. Baba and Amir lived in a small apartment and Baba had to work hard so they could afford a decent life. This is also true for Mr. Behrani who brought his family to America and in order to be able to support them, he had to work very hard in the construction industry. Baba and Mr. Behrani had one very important trait in common, they both wanted their sons, Amir and Esmail, to get an education and go to college and that was one of the reasons why they decided to work so hard, this shows how much Baba and Mr. Behrani care about their sons, they are proud of them and loved them no matter what. Both families changed form wealthy to middle-class, hard working, immigrant families. However, they were also different in the way they interact as a family. The Behranis show their love for each other openly, something Baba and Amir almost never did. Their lives in America are also very different because Baba and Amir interact with people from Afghanistan once they are in America. The Behranis have no other Iranians with them in America. They are constantly threatened by Lester, a police officer who takes advantage of their immigration status even though they are American citizens. Baba and Amir are never faced with enemies in America; they spend their time with fellow Afghans. Both of these families came to America as immigrants and shared experiences because of their decision to start new lives. However, their lives were different because somehow, the Behrani family could never be happy in America, Baba and Amir started out with difficulties and even though Baba passed away, Amir made a successful life and never had anybody threatening him in America.
1. The house symbolizes many different things for both Kathy and Mr. Behrani. Kathy does not leave the house and the family living in it alone after it is taken away from her because she thinks it is taken away from her in mistake. It is something very important to her because her father had owned the house who is dead. Remembering what she said "it took my father about 20 years to pay off the house, it took me one time to lose it" (it is not exactly what she said but rewording some of what she said). It symbolizes one last memory of her father to her and she does not want to lose it in any cost. Mr. Behrani, on the other hand, does not see why and how it is any of his problem why the last owner, Kathy, lost the house. What Mr. Behrani is worried about is not letting the house go because it reminds him of the one in Iran. It is not a costly house either and unless someone pays three times more of the original price for it, he will not let anyone else get it. It symbolizes the love of his family for him. This is how his wife and son can be happy after being thrown away from their own country, Iran. It is a house where they have a beautiful view just like the one they had in their old home. It also symbolizes the future of his son for him. If someone pays for it under the conditions he wants, he is able to pay for his son's college expenses. This house may be a nice house with a nice view but it's just more than a house indeed.
ReplyDeleteAt the start of the film The House of Sand and Fog we are introduced to two distinct individuals. We have Behrani; a man of pride and respect from his native country. We also have Kathy; a woman crushed from the recent loss of her beloved father and abandoned from her husband. We as the viewers and audience understand and acknowledge their situations however; both Kathy and Behrani are left ignorant of knowing one another’s situation. We than are then introduced to the magnificent house which both Kathy and Behrani takes great interest and importance in. Both having different purposes and reasoning as to keeping the house. Behrani’s family was accustomed to the royal and wealthy life back in Iran. All Behrani wants is to provide his family a better life like the one they obtained back in their country. Also, he wanted a superior education for his son for a better future. The house for him was the key to success for his family; he wanted to sell the house four times the profit he paid. He wanted to make profit off the house to also quit the low paying job as a construction worker. On the other hand Kathy stood at a complete different situation. Kathy was raised in that house as a child and was the only thing left from her father. Her father had worked hard day after day to pay that house off and final take possession of it and call it his own. To Kathy it meant a lot because she loved her dad and wanted to keep the house for as long as she could for her father’s hard work. As she recalls “It took my dad 30 years to pay that house off, and it took me less than 8 months to fuck it up” she begins crying because she feels she has let down her father. By all means the house doesn’t only symbolize shelter for these individuals it symbolizes their situations and experiences of life. For Behrani it symbolized pride and achievement along with goals. For Kathy it symbolized the dedication and hard work committed by her most treasured father.
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ReplyDeleteThe house that Kathy and Mr. Behrani are fighting over is more than just a house. The house symbolizes success to both Kathy and Mr. Behrani. Kathy and her brother were given the house by their father. Kathy makes a statement saying, "My father worked 30 years to pay off this house and I lost it in seven months". This house represents everything her father worked for. Kathy's husband had already left her a couple months before the house was taken away. If she lost the house too, what else would she have left? The house also symbolized her independence and pride. She might have had some support from her mother and brother if she would have let them know what was going on. She was only worried about getting the house back before her mother came to visit. Mr. Behrani saw the house as his success in America. His wife made a comment that it was her husbands fault that they had to leave Iran in the first place. She was angry at the life she was living in America. Mr. Bahrani saw this house as a way to solve all their financial needs. As an auctioned house, Mr. Behrani bought the house at a very cheap price. They would finally be comfortable and he could quit his construction job that he hated so much. If they were to fail in America or be deported back to Iran, they would not survive. They could no longer survive living a lifestyle they couldn't afford, and this house would have been their get-away.
In the film, Kathy’s home represents more than what it appears to be. Kathy and Mr. Behrani are disputing over this home because the house symbolizes different things for both of them. Kathy’s father worked hard and strenuously to buy and own that house. Her home is not only a memorable relic of her father but also somewhat of a family heirloom. Her father passed the house down to her and brother and she lost it within eight months. All of his hard work and time would be in vain if she did not win her house back. She allowed several conflicts to escalate because she was passionate about getting her house back. For Mr. Behrani the house symbolized an open window to the life he lived in his homeland. Selling Kathy’s home for approximately four times what he bought it for would supply him with the money he needs to put his son into a prestigious university and buy a luxurious home. Mr. Behrani was focused on selling that house because it was the key he needed to unlock the door to a more luxurious and affluent lifestyle in America. As a result of the house possessing such a significant meaning for both of them, they were unable to communicate and resolve the conflicts that escalated.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie House of Sand and Fog, by , there is a huge dispute over the house that Mr. Behrani (an Iranian immigrant and also a U.S. citizen) purchases, which belonged to Cathy, the woman who was given the house after her father died (who owned it previously). Cathy, a recovering alcoholic whose husband left her, became depressed and did not bother to check her mail or pay her bills, which resulted in the loss of her house. The movie is based on Cathy trying to get her house back, and she even hooks up with a cop who “helps” in the process by tormenting and threatening the Iranian family. Throughout this film, the house symbolizes Cathy’s memories and childhood, and it also represents Mr. Behrani’s success in America.
ReplyDeleteCathy grew up in that house that her father worked hard for and it was a major part of her childhood. She did not want to let go of the experiences that she had in the house, and was given the deed to it once her father passed. Her memories with her family were shared there, and when the Iranian family purchased it from the county, she was torn apart from the inside out. She felt that it was unfair and she looked at Mr. Behrani as an immigrant who just bought it as an investment. The house in her eyes was what her family worked hard for all their life. On the other hand, the house symbolizes Mr. Behrani and his family’s success in America. He also worked hard to buy the house and had good intentions to make it look nicer to suit him and his family’s needs. Although they were U.S. citizens, the cop threatened that if they did not pack up and sell the house back to the county, that he would get them deported. This house was suitable to the needs of the three member family, and it symbolized wealth and prosperity to the Iranian family.