Plot

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.

On their son Odell's 13th birthday, graphic artist Tom Warszaw finally confesses to his wife why he fled Greenwich Village, NYC for Paris when he was that age. As a schoolboy, naturally sensitive, considerate Tommy's best buddy was 'adult' half-wit Pappass, Father Duncan's Catholic School's assistant janitor. Smothered by his dependent mother, a mute 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 he had been the instigator. Even more tragic consequences follow.—KGF Vissers

Tom Warshaw is an American artist who has been living in Paris for 30 years. He quietly leads a troubled existence, something that his French wife Coralie Warshaw can see without knowing the source of that trouble, which is negatively affecting their son Odell. On Odell's 13th birthday, Tom decides to come clean to his family about his past, and the source of that trouble, which started when he himself was 13. At the time in 1973, he, young Tommy, lived with his unconventional working-class mother, Katherine Warshaw, in Greenwich Village, and she wasn't coping well after Tommy's father's death.She rested all her hopes on Tommy, who was attending a private Catholic boys' school on a scholarship; his best friend there was the school's mentally-challenged janitor, Pappass, who helped him with his part-time job as delivery boy for a local butcher. They saved their money in a hidden box to buy a bike. The hiding location lead to Tommy meeting, faceless through barred windows, a female convict who called herself Lady; she became his confidante in all matters, especially Tommy's crush on wealthy Melissa Loggia, who attended his school's sister school. Within this world, something happened that tore apart Tommy's life.—Huggo

In the present, artist Tom Warshaw recalls his traumatic coming-of-age. As a 13-year-old growing up in New York City in 1973, Tom hangs out with Pappass, a mentally-disabled man. With Tom's mother battling depression after the death of her husband, the young boy is left to his own devices. When Tom develops a crush on schoolmate Melissa, Pappass feels abandoned and begins to behave erratically.—yusufpiskin

Set in NYC, House of D is a "coming of age" story of a 13 y/o boy, Tommy (Anton Yelchin), being raised by a single mom (Tea Leoni). This boy befriends the janitor, Pappass (Robin Williams) of his Catholic school & is his co-worker as a delivery boy @ the local butcher shop. As an adult, Tommy (David Duchovny) is an illustrator living in Paris, now with a family of his own. Tommy must resolve past issues & present relationships that have unraveled due to an incident that happened with Pappass when Tommy was a boy. Also stars Robin Williams daughter (Zelda), who is Tommy's first "crush" & Erykah Badu as "Lady" / Bernadette, a woman who is imprisioned in the "Women's House of D". She imparts wisdom to Tommy. The House of D was a womens prison in Manhattan where inmates could freely talk to those passing by along the street, built in 1934, Women's House of D was later razed in 1974 for a park. Duchovny also directed & wrote the screen play. Excellent extra features on the DVD.