The House of Sand(Casa de Areia)

L.A. Weekly by

Andrucha Waddington's admirably pretentious epic of woman in nature makes the rare attempt to impart a purely visual experience

Salon by Andrew O'Hehir

It's an impressive film, beautifully photographed and marvelously acted. But is it more than a set of undeniably gorgeous affectations?

Los Angeles Times by Carina Chocano

As original as it is lovely.

The New York Times by Dana Stevens

At first House of Sand may seem like a stark tale of survival, but a surprisingly lush and colorful romance blossoms in its bleak and gorgeous desert setting.

TV Guide Magazine by Ken Fox

After a positively thrilling first half, Brazilian director Andrucha Waddington's follow-up to his acclaimed 2000 debut "Me You Them" badly stumbles over an unfortunate casting strategy.

Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman

The House of Sand's director, Andrucha Waddington, lays on the Awesome Visual Poetry and throws in a welter of story gimmicks, but it's all a bit too fancifully arid.

Christian Science Monitor by Peter Rainer

Montenegro, the star of "Central Station," and her daughter make a remarkable pair. They hold your attention even when the emptily portentous story does not.

Variety by Robert Koehler

Magnificently renders a fresh view of life on planet Earth.

The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson

House Of Sand is a gorgeous piece of cinema, but by the end, it just dries up and blows away.