Massoud Amir Behrani is living a lie to fulfill a dream. Once a member of the Shah of Iran's elite inner circle, he has brought his family to America to build a new life. Despite a pretense of continued affluence, he is barely making ends meet until he sees his opportunity in the auction of a house being sold for back taxes. It is a terrible mistake. Through a bureaucratic snafu, the house had been improperly seized from its rightful owner, Kathy Nicolo, a self-destructive alcoholic. The loss of her home tears away Kathy's last hope of a stable life--a life that had been nearly destroyed by addiction--and Kathy decides to fight to recover her home at any cost. Her struggle is joined by deputy sheriff Lester Burdon, who tries to take the law into his own hands to help Kathy. Ultimately the tale, itself, explores what happens when the American Dream goes terribly awry.

Director:
Vadim Perelman	Director
Cast:
Ben Kingsley	as Colonel Massoud Amir Behrani
Jennifer Connelly	as Kathy Nicolo
Ron Eldard	as Deputy Sheriff Lester Burdon
Shohreh Aghdashloo	as Nadi, Behrani'S Wife
Jonathan Ahdout	as Esamail, Behrani'S Son
Frances Fisher	as Connie Walsh
Carlos Gomez	as Lieutenant Alvarez
Kim Dickens	as Carol Burdon
Kia Jam	as Ali
Aki Aleong	as Tran
Andre Dubus III	as Myers
Ashley Edner	as Bethany
Jaleh Modjallal	as Yasmin
Zoran Radanovich	as Sergei
Navi Rawat	as Soraya
Marco Rodriguez	as Mendez
Matthew Simonian	as Little Esamail
Cooper Thornton	as Gary
Max Jansen Weinstein	as Nate
Jackie Ahdout	as Elevator Woman
Elton Ahi	as Wedding Singer
Markus Baldwin	as Young Husband
Tom Benick	as Hotel Security
Dan Brinkle	as Husband Buyer
David Carrera	as Carpenter
Mark Chaet	as Wedding Guest
Al Faris	as Wedding Guest
Aaron Andre Frazier	as Courier
Bonita Friedericy	as Motel Manager
Frank Gallegos	as Prison Guard
Spencer Garrett	as Auctioneer
Brian Reed Garvin	as Fat Man
Namrata S. Gujral-Cooper	as Wedding Guest
Samuel Hart	as Elevator Man
Joe Howard	as Appraiser
Isabelle James	as Teenage Girl
Ken Kerman	as Locksmith
Scott Kinworthy	as Deputy Trainee
Joyce Kurtz	as Kathy'S Mom
Yan Lin (Yan Lin)	as Wife Of Buyer
Andy Madadian	as Wedding Singer
Karl Makinen	as Officer At End
Michael Papajohn	as Carpenter
Tom Reynolds	as Gas Station Worker
Shani Rigsbee	as Wedding Singer
Al Rodrigo	as Torez
Dennison Samaroo	as Doctor
Pamela Shaddock	as Nurse
Scott N. Stevens	as Country Official
Jose L Vasquez	as Arresting Officer
Matt Waite	as Arresting Officer
Grant D. Samson	as Lead Person
Cinematography:
Roger Deakins	Director Of Photography
David Stockton	Director Of Photography (2nd Unit)
Andy Harris	First Assistant "A" Camera
Josh Blakeslee	Second Assistant "A" Camera
Allen Mizrahi	First Assistant "B" Camera
Paul Maletich	Second Assistant "B" Camera
Kenn Ferro	"A" Camera Operator
Clint Dougherty	"B" Camera Operator
Will Dearborn	Loader
Chuck Weiss	Video Assist
Writer:
Vadim Perelman	Screenplay (Adaptation)
Shawn Lawrence Otto	Screenplay (Adaptation)
Andre Dubus III	Source Material (From Novel: "The House Of Sand And Fog")
Scott Peterson	Script Supervisor
Producer:
Michael London	Producer
Vadim Perelman	Producer
Steven R. Molen	Production Executive
Shawn Lawrence Otto	Co-Producer
Jeremiah Samuels	Co-Producer
Editing:
Lisa Zeno Churgin	Editor
Helen Hand	First Assistant Editor
Phillip J Bartell	Second Assistant Editor
Susan Dudeck	Dialogue Editor
Shannyn Riba	Apprentice Editor
Music:
James Horner	Composer
James Horner	Original Music
Todd Homme	Executive Music Supervisor
Sandy De Crescent	Orchestra Contractor
Bob Bornstein	Music Preparation
Simon Rhodes	Score Mixing
Simon Rhodes	Score Recording
Randy Kerber	Synthesizer Programming
Ian Underwood	Synthesizer Programming
David Marquette	Assistant Music Engineer
Jim Henrikson	Supervising Music Editor
Ramiro Belgardt	Music Editor
Jen Monnar	Assistant Music Editor
Assistant Direction:
Chris Soldo	First Assistant Director
Gregory G Hale	Second Assistant Director
Stephanie Kime	Second Second Assistant Director
Art Director:
Drew Boughton	Art Director
Nithya Shrinivasan	Assistant Art Director
Visual Effects:
Richard O Helmer	Special Effects
Robert Bell	Special Effects
Brandon K Mclaughlin	Special Effects
David Sosalla	Visual Effects Supervisor
Pat Doyle	Visual Effects Producer
Lisa Markou	Digital Coordinator
Richard O Helmer	Special Effects Coordinator
Douglas Ziegler	Special Effects Foreman
Make-Up:
Judy Chin	Key Makeup Artist
Kris Evans	Makeup Artist (For Mr Kingsley)
Kathrine Gordon	Key Hair Stylist
Betty Lou Skinner	Hair Stylist
Costume-Wardrobe:
Hala Bahmet	Costume Designer
Virginia Burton	Costume Supervisor
Marisa Aboitiz	Assistant Costume Designer
Art Department:
Robert L Stover	Art Department Buyer
Jonah Markowitz	Art Department Production Assistant
Rick C. Taplin	Art Department Production Assistant
Cheree Welsh	Art Department Coordinator
Ron Ashmore	Paint Supervisor
Sean Lyons	Stand-By Painter
Jill Korengold	Set Costumer
Gene Serdena	Set Decorator
Gary C Diamond	Set Designer
Stuart Rankine	Assistant Property Master
Production Designer:
Maia Javan	Production Designer
Sound:
Peggy Names	Cableman
Skip Lievsay	Supervising Sound Editor
Jerry Ross	Supervising Sound Editor
Aaron Glascock	Sound Effects Design
Jeremy Peirson	Sound Effects Editor
William B Kaplan	Production Sound Mixer
Tatum Kohut	Supervising Sound Mixer
Kevin O'Connell	Supervising Sound Mixer
Greg P. Russell	Supervising Sound Mixer
Greg Ten Bosch	Assistant Sound Editor
Ron Vignone	Assistant Sound Editor
Dan Sharp	Sound Re-Recordist
John Cucci	Foley Artist
Dan O'Connell	Foley Artist
James Ashwill	Foley Mixer
Richard Duarte	Foley Mixer
Rick Canelli	Adr Recordist
George Berndt	Adr Editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	Adr Mixer
Casting:
Deborah Aquila	Casting
Tricia Wood	Casting
Leslee Feldman	Casting Executive
Jennifer Smith	Casting Associate
Chrys Lyras	Casting Assistant
Tracy Dixon	Extras Casting
Stunts:
Craig Branham	Stunts
Bud Davis	Stunts
Chris Monberg	Stunts
Chris O'Hara	Stunts
Russell Solberg	Stunts
Sonny Tipton	Stunts
Scott Sproule	Stunt Coordinator
Greg Anthony	Esamail Stunt Double
Jewel Donohue	Kathy Stunt Double
Diana Lupo	Kathy Stunt Double
David Renaud	Behrani Stunt Double
Publicity:
Louise A. Spencer	Unit Publicist
Production Companies:
Bisgrove Entertainment	Production Company
Groundswell Productions	Production Company
Nu-Metro	Theatrical Distributor
Ascot Elite Entertainment Group	Theatrical Distributor
Svensk Filmindustri Norway	Theatrical Distributor
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International	Theatrical Distributor
Gulf Film, Llc	Theatrical Distributor
Golden Village	Theatrical Distributor
Filmax International	Theatrical Distributor
Myndform	Theatrical Distributor
Svensk Filmindustri	Theatrical Distributor
Humax	Theatrical Distributor
Roadshow Films Pty Ltd	Theatrical Distributor
Gaga Communications (Parent)	Theatrical Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures International	Theatrical Distributor
Paradiso Entertainment	Theatrical Distributor
	Theatrical Distributor
Filmcompagniet	Theatrical Distributor
Dreamworks Studios	Studio
Dreamworks Studios	Domestic Theatrical Distributor
Nexo	Foreign Theatrical Distributor
Content International	Foreign Distribution Sales
Dreamworks Home Entertainment	Domestic Video Distributor
Content International	Financier
Sony Pictures Scoring Stage	Post-Production Services; Sound Mixing Facility (Cary Grant Theater)
Todd-Ao	Various
	Extras Casting
Boone'S Animals For Hollywood, Inc.	Animals Handler
Pacific Title & Art Studio	Titles & Opticals; Visual Effects
L.A. Maddogs	Loop Group
Mario'S Catering	Caterer
Film Production - Main:
Gina Fortunato	Production Supervisor
Michael Grillo	Head Of Feature Production
Jennifer Sanger	Executive Production Coordinator
Sarah Scarritt	Production Coordinator
Jim Turner	Production Controller
Doris Hellmann	Production Accountant
Kimberly Crockett	Production Assistant
Arash Esfandi	Production Assistant
Brian Foster	Production Assistant
Jesec Griffin	Production Assistant
Travis Hills	Production Assistant
Kristina Jutzi	Production Assistant
Jay Y Lee	Production Assistant
Chad Sexton	Production Assistant
Brandon Walowitz	Production Assistant
Cody Williams	Production Assistant
Robert Jackson	Boom Operator
Cary Weitz	Boom Operator
Peggy Names	Second Boom Operator
Quinn Grove	Best Boy Grip
Ronald A Miller	Rigging Best Boy Grip
Jean Costello	Assistant Production Coordinator
Lisa Vijitchanton	Assistant Production Coordinator
Bruce Hamme	Dolly Grip
Randy Burke	Driver
Vince Cortez	Driver
John Lybrand	Driver
Dan Marrow	Driver
Patrick M Mccombs	Driver
Chad S Moore	Driver
Daniel C Routhieaux	Driver
Steve Borgese	Greens Foreman
Johnathan Schaab	Greens Foreman
Seong Dilg	Grip
William E Luna	Grip
Willis Pipkins	Grip
Neil Williams	Grip
Robert Gray	Key Grip
Raymond Michels	Rigging Key Grip
Bruce Birmelin	Still Photographer
Mike Boudreau	Swing Gang
J Michael Glynn	Swing Gang
Tom Spencer	Swing Gang
William J Mccance	Transportation Captain
Donald J Violett	Transportation Captain
Dusty Saunders	Transportation Coordinator
Jon Hendry	Craft Service
Cindy Megna	Craft Service
Film Production - Unit:
Jeremiah Samuels	Unit Production Manager
Film Production - Construction/Set:
Steve Hagberg	Construction Coordinator
Robert Williams	Propmaker Foreman
Todd S Morris	On Set Dresser
Lance Gunnin	General Foreman
Boyd R Hauer	Labor Foreman
Peter Bankins	Property Master
Film Production - Lighting/Electrical:
Christopher Napolitano	Chief Lighting Technician
Edward R. Nedin	Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
David A Parks	Rigging Best Boy Electric
James Barrett	Electrician
Chad Cohlmia	Electrician
Julian De La Pena	Electrician
Sean M. Smith	Electrician
David Burnett	Rigging Gaffer
Post Production:
Sven E M Fahlgren	Post-Production Supervisor
Jo Dee Freck	Post-Production Supervisor
Martin Cohen	Post-Production Executive
Jeffrey Price	Post-Production Assistant
Kenny Becker	Color Timer
Gary Burritt	Negative Cutter
Maria DeVane	Post-Production Accountant
Location Manager:
Robert Foulkes	Location Manager
Andrew C Keeter	Location Manager
Location Scout:
Tim Falconer	Location Scout
Emre Sonmez	Location Scout 1
Assistant Location Manager:
Judy Heinzen	Assistant Location Manager
Pavel Sterba	Assistant Location Manager
Leif Tilden	Assistant Location Manager
Misc. Crew:
Jill Hahn	Payroll Accountant
Martin Elfalan	Assistant Accountant
Gerald A Vitatoe	Accounting Clerk
Jennifer Hilton Monroe	Assistant (To Mr London)
Matthew Michaud	Assistant (To Mr Perelman)
Peter Robinson	Assistant (To Mr Perelman)
Tien Nguyen	Assistant (To Mr Samuels)
Luke Bishop	Assistant (To Mr Kingsley)
Shelly Morita	Assistant (To Ms Connelly)
Dr. G R Bassiry	Dialect Coach
Jack Stern	Studio Teacher
Steven P Moder	Editorial Systems Manager
Allen Bowen	First Aid
Boone'S Animals For Hollywood, Inc.	Other
Sony Pictures Scoring Stage	Other
Mario'S Catering	Other
	Other
L.A. Maddogs	Other
Pacific Title & Art Studio	Other
Todd-Ao	Other
Steven Maines	Stand-In
Hellena Schmied	Stand-In
Ozzie Carmona	Compositor
Jennifer Law-Stump	Compositor
Patrick Phillips	Compositor
Peggy Names	Sound

Nominated for the 2004 Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) award for Best Actor (Ben Kingsley).

Winner of the 2003 award for Best Directorial Debut (Vadim Perelman) by the National Board of Review.

Winner of the 2003 award for Best Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo) from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Winner of the 2003 award for Best Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo) from the New York Film Critics Circle.

Expanded Release in United States December 26, 2003

Released in United States February 2004

Released in United States November 2003

Released in United States on Video March 30, 2004

Released in United States Winter December 19, 2003

Shown at Berlin International Film Festival February 5-15, 2004.

Feature directorial debut for Vadim Perelman.

Signpost Films dropped out as foreign distributor.

Released in United States February 2004 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival February 5-15, 2004.)

Released in United States on Video March 30, 2004

Released in United States November 2003 (Shown at AFI/Los Angeles International Film Festival (Gala) November 6-16, 2003.)

Released in United States Winter December 19, 2003 (NY)

Expanded Release in United States December 26, 2003

Ben Kingsley won  AA-Best Actor in 2003

AA-Best Score in 2003

Shohreh Aghdashloo won  AA-Best Supporting Actress in 2003