This Jennifer Connelly Drama Has Demolished My Faith in Humanity Completely

I've always struggled with tragedy films. There's something about them that leaves me with a persistent knot in my stomach.

Usually though, I can shake it off after a while, but not this time. This time it left me feeling hollow, questioning the very systems that are supposed to protect us. And perhaps that's exactly what makes it so powerful. But I wish it would have given me at least a second to breathe.

House of Sand and Fog’s Plot: A Simple Misunderstanding Spirals Into a Devastating Nightmare

From the moment Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly) gets evicted from her house due to a bureaucratic error, we get to see how quickly things can spiral out of control.

House of Sand and Fog follows two stories of struggling folks trying to do what's best for their families. Colonel Behrani (Ben Kingsley) buys the house in hopes of selling it at a higher price. And Kathy just wants to save the home her father left her and her brother.

The movie has a great ability to somehow make you sympathize with both parties. Neither Behrani nor Nicolo are the villains here.

House of Sand and Fog Makes Us Fear the System Itself

Instead, the only character I had no sympathy for was the deputy sheriff who I think personifies the whole system here. He's the epitome of the system that fails the very people it's meant to protect. He abuses his power, gets personally involved in something he has no business in, and makes everything ten times worse. Classic.

The story feels uncanny and realistic at the same time. You can't help but think that this kind of tragedy can happen to anyone. I mean, horrible things are happening in the bureaucratic hellhole every day.

House of Sand and Fog Got Everybody Reaching for Tissues

• On Rotten Tomatoes, House of Sand and Fog has 75% from critics and 83% from the audience.

• On IMDb, House of Sand and Fog is rated 7.5/10.

Here’s what the audience thinks:

“Great movie. Sad movie. And the main villain in this movie, The County, gets away clean. As government always does after ruining everyone's lives,” Redditor Ninjurk noted.

The movie got praised by critics as well, with Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times) writing:

“It's a story that haunts long after it's seen, not just because we're overpowered by what happens to its characters but because, if we're honest, we see how all of it, even the worst of it, could happen to us.”

Where Can You Watch House of Sand and Fog For Free?

I've always been a believer that the best movies are the kind that change us. And House of Sand and Fog definitely altered something in me permanently. Though it's not an easy watch, I'd highly recommend it to anyone seeking for deeper and more meaningful stories.

House of Sand and Fog is currently available to stream for free on Hoopla. Seriously, give it a visit.