Although we have discussed this film in class and online, there are still areas worth a more thorough examination. Select one of the following prompts below and respond in a responsible and thoughtful manner.
1. In the movie, the house in dispute is not just a house. It also symbolizes different things for Kathy and Mr. Behrani. What does the house symbolize for each of them?
2. There are several instances of bird imagery (verbal and /or visual) in the film. Describe three instances of this imagery in the film and explain its significance.
3. Compare and contrast the immigrant experiences of Baba and Amir (Kite Runner) with those of the Behrani family (House of Sand and Fog). Be sure to include both similarities and differences that go beyond the superficial.
4. Why did Colonel Behrani kill himself and his wife?
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I believe Colonel Behrani killed himself and his wife because of a variety of reasons. One of them was because he felt lost and trapped. He knew if he stayed in America that he would be put through more trouble with the house, yet if he returned to his home country with his wife, he knew they would be in even more danger, because of the war going on in their country. Behrani also felt a major depression with the loss of his only son. He knew that his wife felt the same depression, and he maybe thought that it would be "appropriate" to take both of their lives, so they would not have to deal with the depression. Basically I think all of these reasons leading to Behrani killing his wife and himself have to do with pride. Colonel Behrani was much like Baba in Kite Runner, as both the men felt as if they were quite important and deserved the best; in the Colonel's case it was buying the house for him and his family. The pride was ruined when Behrani lost his son, and figured that his life would fall apart from that point on, anyway.
ReplyDeletethe colonel killed himself and his wife because he felt he had nothing worth fighting for. i beleive that he killed his wife so that he could prevent the hurt she was going to feel when she learned that her son was dead. it was easier for him to kill her than to have to tell her that their son was dead because of his stubborness. he killed himself because in a way he had lost the house and without a son he had no real family to fight for. pride had to do with it because he knew if he stayed alive he was most likely have to go back to his old job and live.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the movie “House of sand and fog” the house symbolized many different things, but symbolized something dear to the heart for Kathy and Mr. Behrani. In Kathy’s case the house symbolized a home that her father worked hard for during his life to ensure that his family had a place to sleep, eat and call home. Kathy even said in one part of the movie that her father worked his whole life for the house but only took her a few weeks to screw it up. For Mr. Behrani the house symbolized his home back in his country in which his family was forced to leave. He wanted to make his family feel as comfortable and safe as possible; this is exactly what this house did for his family. So in the end both characters in the movie had their own reason for wanting to keep the house even though in the end Kathy even knew that the house now belonged to the Behrani’s.
ReplyDeleteThe house symbolized to the colonel that the house would one day get his family out of this "poor" situation he believed he was in. He didnt like the fact that he had to work in the harsh conditions he was working in as a contruction worker to simply get by with his family fincancialy. He saw the house as a great opportunity to finally have a life like he had in his country. Although to Kathy it was a symbolisim of her father, he worked hard to keep the house for his children and now that her brother had left and it was only left to her she wanted to show her family that she had her life together. That she would be able to handle her life that was soon falling apart, especially toward her mother. Who constantly critized her and her way of life since she had past issues.
ReplyDeleteColonel Behrani killed himself and his wife because he knew that there was nothing left for them there. It is clear from the beginning that Behrani and his wife both left most of themselves back in Iran. His wife never wanted to leave, and the Colonel always wanted to hold onto that image of himself as an important man of stature like he was in Iran. In a way, when they came to America they never really fell into their existence there. Also, one of the reasons he worked so hard in such lousy jobs was so that he could make enough money to send his son to college and give him a good life, but once his son was dead there was nothing left for him to work for. I think he knew that the only things he and his wife had to look forward to were loneliness and suffering so his decision to kill them both was a conscious effort to save them from that.
ReplyDeleteThe house symbolizes dreams for both Colonel Behrani and Kathy. Behrani has left Iran for his family's safety. Unwillingly he has also left his high position as a colonel, his money, and his country. The house symbolizes a new hope for the colonel. It would be a chance at a better life. Money to save for his son's education, a home like his one in Iran next to the Caspian Sea, and a new chance for him to stand above his shame. He even says that,"God has kissed our eyes". On the other hand for Kathy it is holding onto her father's hard work. In the movie she even says that," it took him 30 years to pay it off and 8 months for me to **** it up!" It is her chance to make all things anew. It is also to welcome her mother. In the same way this reminds me of how my grandmother's house in Haiti means so much more then just sticks and cement. When my grandmother (grandme) passed away in 2006 everyone was very sad. But greed is forever beating even when sadness is around. My grandme had owned the rights to that house and by Haitian law she has the power to leave it's ownership in anyone's hands. Surprisingly she left the house in my name. I was very shocked. There were several people she could have given the house to but somehow she new that even though the house was a source of hope for everyone there were some people who's dreams were not good at all. Like Behrani and Kathy a house meant so much more. She left it to me as hope for peace in our family. The house means much more to both characters.
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