House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Shohreh Aghdashloo: Nadi

Photos 

Quotes 

• Nadi : I am tired.

  Behrani : Soon we will return to the flowers of Isfahan... the mosques of Qom... and to the fine hotels of old Tehran. I have taken us so far off our course. But now it is time to return. It is time for us to go home, to our destiny.

• Nadi : [In Farsi]  I dreamt of a bird trapped in our empty house, it was trying to find a way out. It fluttered around hitting the walls. I could feel the air from the wings on my face. I opened the window... and it flew away.

  Behrani : Drink this.

• [talking with Nadi] 

  Kathy : I grew up in this house. It's the house that my father left to me and my brother when he died. The county evicted me from this house by mistake and your husband bought it and now, he won't sell it back for less than four times what he paid. Now, I don't want to argue with him. You know, I really don't. It's just that if this goes to court, it could take...

  Nadi : [interrupting]  They want to deport us?

  Kathy : I don't know.

  Nadi : You must see... they will kill us. They will shoot my childen.

  [breaks down and crys] 

  Kathy : [comforting her]  Hey, hey. You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?

  Nadi : Please, you are a very nice girl.

  [grabs a notepad and pen] 

  Nadi : Please, you write for me everything. I want for to understand for discussing with my husband. OK?

  Kathy : OK.

• Nadi : [to Massoud, in Farsi]  I didn't come to America to live and walk the streets like a filthy Arab! I came to America to LIVE!

• Behrani : [to Kathy]  You think you can frighten me? You think you can frighten me with your stupid deputy coming here telling me lies?

  [Grabs Kathy by the arm and frog-marches her down the path] 

  Behrani : What do you think I am? Tell me that. Am I stupid? You think I'm stupid?

  Nadi : [Following them]  Don't!

  Behrani : In my country, you're not worthy to raise your eyes to me. You're nothing! And you can tell your deputy friend his superior officers know everything!

  [Opens Kathy's car and shoves her inside the driver's seat, banging her head] 

  Behrani : You tell him that! This is our home!

  Kathy : Please...

  Behrani : OUR HOME!

  Nadi : [In Farsi]  Leave her alone! That's enough!

  [In English] 

  Nadi : Please, stop! Please, to stop, Behrani!

  [Kathy drives off. Massoud glares at Nadi] 

• [after Lester threatens Massoud with deportation in front of his family] 

  Nadi : Give to me answer, Behrani. What did that man say about deporting?

  Behrani : He said nothing, Nadi.

  Nadi : Do not lie to me! I heard him! Tell to me, Behrani.

  [In Farsi] 

  Nadi : Tell me.

  [In English] 

  Nadi : What have you done?

  Behrani : It is none of your business what I have or have not done. Have you no faith in me? No respect? That man has said I must remove the sign, that is all.

  Nadi : Coward! Liar! You casif liar! It is YOUR fault we were forced to flee from Iran! It is YOUR fault we are here!

  Esmail : [In Farsi]  That's enough, mother!

  Nadi : Yours and your SAVAK friends!

  [Massoud slaps her]