House of D (2004)

By working through problems stemming from his past, Tom Warshaw, an American artist living in Paris, begins to discover who he really is, and returns to his home to reconcile with his family and friends.

Director:

David Duchovny

Writer:

David Duchovny

Stars:

David Duchovny, Téa Leoni, Robin Williams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anton Yelchin	...	Tommy
Robin Williams	...	Pappass
Téa Leoni	...	Mrs. Warshaw
Erykah Badu	...	Lady / Bernadette
David Duchovny	...	Tom Warshaw
Frank Langella	...	Reverend Duncan
Zelda Williams	...	Melissa
Magali Amadei	...	Coralie Warshaw
Olga Sosnovska	...	Simone
Orlando Jones	...	Superfly
Bernie Sheredy	...	Sasha (as Bernard Sheredy)
Stephen Spinella	...	Ticket Seller
Alice Drummond	...	Mrs. Brevoort
Harold Cartier	...	Odell Warshaw
Mark Margolis	...	Mr. Pappass

Storyline

On their son Odell's 13the birthday, graphic artist Tom Warszaw finally confesses to his wife why he fled Greenwich Village, NYC at that age to Paris. As a schoolboy, naturally sensitive, considerate Tommy was best buddy with 'adult' half-wit Pappass, father Duncan's Catholic school's assistant janitor. Smothered by his dependent mother, a dumb orderly, Tommy got 'parental advice' from a women's prison inmate. Together with Pappas, he saves up tips from their butchery delivery rounds. One night, Pappas steals the bike they were saving for. Tommy tries to take the blame, but ends up expelled as if the instigator. Even more tragic consequences follow.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | artist | butchery | catholic school | catholic | 

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Taglines:

See the world a little differently.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual and drug references, thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Films [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

29 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Can dostlar

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,371, 17 April 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$371,081, 8 May 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bob Yari Productions, Jeff Skoll Productions, Southpaw Entertainment (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film writing/directing debut of David Duchovny, who claims to have written the screenplay in six days.

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Goofs

Tom and Pappas go to watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre a year before it came out in cinemas.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tom Warshaw: [narrating] My name is Tom Warshaw. I'm an American artist living in Paris. I've lived here for 30 years with a secret nobody knows. My son, Odell, is turning 13 today. And for his birthday, I'm gonna tell him my secret.
Tom Warshaw: I'm gonna tell him, "You know how in old movies when the bad guys want to break into a safe? There's this one guy, the safecracker, who puts his ear up to the lock and listens as he dials the combination, listening for what they call in English, the tumblers. ...
[...]

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Connections

References Soul Train (1971)

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Soundtracks

Funk # 49
Written by Jim Fox, Joe Walsh, Dale Peters
Performed by James Gang
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

wonderful movie

I had the opportunity to see this on Sunday at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a simple but heartwarming fable about a young boy growing up in 1970s New York City. The acting was wonderful all around, but the standouts were Anton Yelchin (who will one day be a star, I predict) and Erykah Badu. Robin Williams and Tea Leone were also very good. I wouldn't be surprised if Robin gets some Oscar buzz for this role.

I went with my mother and a friend, and all three of us enjoyed it immensely. A very good first effort from David Duchovny, who proves he's not just that X-Files guy.

Highly recommend.