House of D


House of D is a 2004 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by David Duchovny in his directorial debut. The film stars Duchovny, Anton Yelchin, Téa Leoni, Erykah Badu, Frank Langella, Zelda Williams and Robin Williams. It was screened at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival.

Synopsis

American artist Tom Warshaw lives a bohemian existence in Paris, trying to make sense of his troubled adult life by reflecting on his extraordinary childhood.
Prompted by his son's thirteenth birthday, Tom experiences a flashback to Greenwich Village in 1973
when he himself was 13 years old. While his bereaved single mother mourns the recent death of his father, Tommy escapes grief by causing trouble at school and making afternoon deliveries with his best friend Pappass, a middle-aged mentally challenged janitor.
Tommy befriends Lady, a woman incarcerated in the New York Women's House of Detention. Tommy experiences his first taste of love. When Tommy's mother dies by overdosing on sedatives, Lady helps him to realize that he should leave New York to live life anew. Pappass helps Tommy purchase a plane ticket to Paris.
Thirty years later, Tommy returns to Greenwich Village to confront his unfinished past.

Cast

At the time of filming, David Duchovny and Tea Leoni were married in real life.

Reception

Critical response

of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film one and a half out of four stars and wrote, "Yes, I take notes during the movies. I can't always read them, but I persist in hoping that I can. During a movie like House of D, I jot down words I think might be useful in the review. Peering now at my 3×5 cards, I read sappy, inane, cornball, shameless and, my favorite, doofusoid. I sigh. The film has not even inspired interesting adjectives, except for the one I made up myself."

Box office

The film was released in theaters on April 15, 2005. It grossed $36,371 during its opening week. The next week, it grossed $7,441. In the film's third week, it grossed $210,826, the most during its run. In the film's fourth and final theatrical week, it grossed $30,386, for a total of $389,199 worldwide.

Home media

The film was released on DVD on October 4, 2005. The DVD contains special features, including commentary with David Duchovny and the cast, and a behind-the-scenes featurette called The Making of House of D.