House of Sand

Theatrical Release Date: 2006 07 28 (USA - Limited)

UPC: 043396157200

Studio: Sony Pictures

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:null

Summary: Three generations of women struggle to make lives for themselves and their families in the desert wastes of Northern Brazil in a drama from filmmaker Andrucha Waddington. In 1910, Vasco de S? (Ruy Guerra) leads his wife, ?urea (Fernanda Torres), and her mother, Dona Maria (Fernanda Montenegro), to their new home -- a ramshackle cabin in Maranh?o, a tiny village in the middle of a barren sand dune. Vasco and ?urea's new neighbors are hardly welcoming of the new arrivals, especially Massu (Seu Jorge), and when Vasco unexpectedly dies, ?urea and Dona Maria are left to fend for themselves, an especially vexing challenge as ?urea is with child. Nine years later, ?urea and Dona Maria have turned their cottage into a home, but life in Maranh?o remains a constant uphill battle, and ?urea dreams of moving away with her daughter, Maria (Camilla Facundes). ?urea becomes infatuated with Luiz (Enrique Diaz), who works with a group of astronomers who have come to Maranh?o to observe an eclipse, but their romance comes to a crashing halt when Dona Maria is killed. By 1942, Maria (now played by Fernanda Torres) is a promiscuous alcoholic who brings shame to ?urea (now played by Fernanda Montenegro). After the body of an Air Force pilot is found near Maranh?o, a military officer is sent to investigate -- Luiz (now played by Stenio Garcia). When Luiz meets Maria, he sees the image of the woman he longed for years before, and while she doesn't have the same feelings for him, Maria realizes that Luiz represents her best hope of finally escaping the village she's come to hate. The House of Sand received its North American premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Film Presented – Tribeca Film Festival Alfred P. Sloan Prize – Sundance Film Festival Best Original Screenplay – Satellite Awards Best Original Screenplay – Satellite Awards Best Original Screenplay – Satellite Awards Best Cinematography – Satellite Awards

Features: The making of The House of Sand

House of Sand

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 12/12/2006

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 115 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) Portuguese

Subtitles: English,French,Portuguese

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- The House of Sand
1. Feeling Deserted [9:06]
2. No Going Back [10:55]
3. Trying to Leave [8:01]
4. Island Visitors [10:21]
5. Slowly Sinking [8:30]
6. Lonely Quest [7:21]
7. Making Acquaintances [9:24]
8. Fresh Start [8:09]
9. New Look [7:40]
10. Lost Track [8:33]
11. New Friend [1:18]
12. Just Sand [11:00]

Cast and Crew: Fernanda Torres  Actor 
Ruy Guerra  Actor 
Fernanda Montenegro  Actor 
Andrucha Waddington  Director 
Andrucha Waddington  Producer 
Leonardo Monteiro de Barros  Producer 
Pedro Buarque de Hollanda  Producer 
Elena Soarez  Screenwriter 
Pedro Guinmaraes  Producer 
Carlo Bartolini  Composer (Music Score) 
Joao Barone  Composer (Music Score) 
Seu Jorge  Actor 
Luiz Melodia  Actor 
Enrique Diaz  Actor 
Stenio Garcia  Actor 
Emiliano Querioz  Actor 
Camilla Facundes  Actor 

Country: Brazil