House of Sand and Fog

I have started watching this movie, but I'm getting sleepy and I have to sleep. Why am I writting about it now? Because I think I am about to watch one of the most racist movies ever! I will follow up once I finish the movie. I hope I'm wrong, but the first 30 mins DON'T look good.

8/6/2006
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So, the post update came a little late, however, I thought I have to write it. I think I was a little too harsh on the movie. But still I believe it was racist, or, trying to be politicly correct, very racial insensetive! I think that the director is a geniuos, who deliberatly make the film the way it is to send many between-the-lines messages, or he is just one lucky @!#!@! . If it is the first, then I have to give him, Vadim Perelman, props, otherwise g'luck with your other movies! Why do I think it's the most dangerous racist movies? because it shows everyone as good ppl, where in fact it trigger some critical issues against minorties in ppl's minds.

First example, when Mr. Behrani comes back and tells the wife that he bought the new house. What does the wife replies? She didn't come here to live like Arabs; living such a "poor" life. I wont argue that it's a wrong statement, beacause it's partially true. Many Arabs go to the states and it ends up with them driving Taxis or working in gas stations. However, this statement gives a very negative attitude towrds a minority called "Arabs." A minorty that have contributed heavily in many areas and sectors in the USA, from medicine to taxis industry! While watching a psychological movie, you wont notice a senetence like this, unless you're Arab. Then, it's setting there in your mind untill something in life triggers it, and here we go we have a rascial monster!
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I read many reviews, and many of them said that the only bad guy was the cop. I don't agree. Even though it showed the Behrani family as very nice and generous family. The movie had some attitude toward them. They were kicked out of there country and USA hosted them, yet Mr. Behrani did what he did instead of being gratefull to this country. C'mon, Mr. Behrani scared the !@# outta me! On the other hand, Kathy what a poor girl. Who on earth wouldn't sympathizes with her. Even when they wanted to show the good side of the Behrani family, they pushed the audiance to the ultimate sympathy with Kathy. Her miserable life, and her feelings of being lost pushed her to try to kill herself. At that moment, when the audiance's hearts are attached to Kathy, crying out loud for help for her, Mr. Behrani comes for her help. True, it was such a noble act from him, but I don't think anyone has paid much attention to him, because everybody is happy that she is alive.
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Few scenes before the end comes the my killer. Here we have, for the first time, Mr. Behrani, whose son is unfairly and mistakenly killed, supplicating to his Lord, Allah. (I don't think the word Allah was mentioned in the movie.) Supplicating and offerec his Nazir. It felt like he was offering to correct all his mistakes, in return for healing his son. He begged hard, but just didnt work. What did that mean? Why that scene? I will leave it to you. Then the utmost defeat comes when they kill themselves. In those kinna movies, where the survival to the stronger character, the ending of those ppl suiciding rises doubts. The movie somehow gave the feeling of that all the bad ppl are gone. The cop is in prison. And, Behrani's family is dead! It was a tragedy, but comes with a surrender and a feeling of losing. This is exactly what I meant at the beginning. They made us feel sorry for their death, with a sense of incorrectness.