Dir. Vadim Perelman
The story is of Kathy, who has been abandoned by her husband, and who is a recovering addict. She lives in the house her father left her, which the county auctions off in place of taxes Kathy hasnt paid. Turns out the county made a mistake, as she never owed those taxes. Before they could correct their mistake, the house is bought by Behrani. He and his family are from Iran, and have just had their daughter married to a good Iranian family, which cost Behrani quite a bit of money. This wouldnt be so bad, except Behrani has been living beyond his means. Behrani can resell the house at four times what he paid. This will start him living the life he has merely been pretending to afford. Meanwhile Kathy is living out of her car. Because Behranis image is at stake, as well as the honor of his wife and son, he will not sell the house back to the county at the price he paid for it. He is willing to sell it back for what the market would give him, but the county is not going to pay him that. Enter a deputy sheriff named Lester who falls for Kathy. The deputy decides to leave his wife and children for her, and he has in the past planted evidence. Taking all this into consideration, its a very little thing for him to go and try to intimidate these upstart Iranians. When that doesnt work, the lives of all those involved spiral out of control.
Heres the thing: None of the three main characters (Kathy, Behrani or Lester) are actually likable. Kathy is whiney and weak. Jennifer Connelley has made a career out of playing a woman who is in a situation out of her control, but most of the time shes more sympathetic than this. Its some combination of her hiding things from people, being ungrateful to the people who are trying to help her, and the last straw is her sleeping with Lester knowing hes a married man. Behrani is an Iranian, so some of his views toward women are unpalatable. Hes trying to shore up an illusion of life, and making Kathy pay for it. Hes got a point, its not his fault the county made a mistake, but hes so wrapped up in his problems he cant see the right path until its too late. Lester gets distracted by a beautiful women and leaves his wife and two children, just like his father before him. He brags about planting evidence, hes got no problem with intimidation, and talks Kathy into leaving sobriety. What a prince. The only two people in this movie I actually like are Behranis wife and son. The wife puts up with behavior (and violence) that would prompt me to respond with a frying pan. She comes across as weak for allowing it, but it seems fairly accurate for a woman brought up in the middle east. I guess some slack must be given. Other than that, shes quite likable. The son is just an all around good guy. In the end, I think it would have been an even better movie if any of the main three had been nicer as people.
The story is powerful, and as I said, its been awhile since theres been a modern tragedy. Kingley does an amazing performance as Behrani, which should get him an oscar nomination; the academy loves unhappy stories. Jennifer Connelley plays the same part she always plays, but looks as good as ever doing it.
I rate it: Matinee
Jennifer Connelley as Kathy
Ben Kinsley as Behrani
Ron Eldard as Lester
Frances Fisher as Connie