House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Is there a good justification for watching "feel-bad" films?  There is no getting around the fact that this film tragedy will leave the viewer totally despondent, but since it garnered two Oscar acting nominations, I did feel that I should take a look.  The lovely Jennifer Connelly playing an abandoned wife and recovering alcoholic loses the house she has inherited from her father through her own inefficiency.  "Sir" Ben Kingsley playing an ex-Colonel in the Shah's Iranian army purchases the house for a pittance when it has been siezed for non-payment of taxes with the intention of moving his wife (memorably played by Shoreh Aghdashoo) and son in until he can sell it for its market value.  It is implicit that they have come well down in the world since moving to the States and that Kingsley helps them keep up appearances by taking a series of menial jobs. His wife has limited English and lives in fear of being sent back to Iran.

Connelly feels she has been wronged and Kingsley believes that the law is on his side, leading to a battle of wills between these two protagonists.  A non-too-bright cop played by Ron Eldard is infatuated by Connelly and walks out on his family to be with her; his efforts to aid her in recovering her house start an irreversible sequence of events that results in heartbreaking tragedy all round.  The end scenes are no less than devastating.  First-time director Vadim Perelman does a masterful job in unveiling the events and obtains great performances from all of these actors -- but just don't ask me to watch this film a second time!