House of Sand and Fog

Directed by Vadim Perelman
Screenplay by Shawn Lawrence Otto and Vadim Perelman
Based on the novel "House of Sand and Fog" by Andre Dubus III
Starring Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Shohreh Aghdashloo
Cinematography by Roger Deakins
Editing by Lisa Zeno Churgin
Produced by Vadim Perelman and Michael London

"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.
[...] A plot is about things that happen. A story is about people who behave. To admire a story you must be willing to listen to the people and observe them"
- Roger Ebert (quoted from his review; 12/26/11)

Thomas Newman

Composer

"I remember a teacher once asked me, what makes music sad? What a brilliant question. His answer was, it takes on the physical qualities of something sad. Meaning if it's sad, a melody will move in step-wise manner. It will tend to be slower as you are when you're sad; it takes on the physical characteristics of an emotional state. Something in the music rings and carries you back to a memory you have that elicits a feeling. I guess what's wonderful about music is that it's utterly abstract and yet has a great kind of sinuous, subjective emotional reaction. I like the idea that music can be dimensional, that it's not necessarily playing what's there."
- Thomas Newman

"I call [Thomas Newman's] style minimal, he does a lot with sustains and atmospheres and pinpoint notes and chords which are just so effective..." Bill Bernstein (Music Editor)