House of D

2004 American film

May 7, 2004 (2004-05-07) (Tribeca)
April 15, 2005 (2005-04-15) (United States)

Running time

97 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguagesEnglish
FrenchBudget$6,000,000^[1]Box office$388,532

House of D is a 2004 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film 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.

Plot

An American artist living a bohemian existence in Paris, Tom Warshaw is 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, as 13-year-old Tommy is on the brink of becoming a man. 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 Pappas, a middle-aged mentally challenged janitor.

Tommy becomes friends with Lady, a woman incarcerated in the New York Women's House of Detention. As well, Tommy experiences his first taste of love. However, 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

David Duchovny as Tom Warshaw (Adult)
Anton Yelchin as Tommy Warshaw (Young)
Robin Williams as Pappass
Téa Leoni as Mrs. Warshaw
Erykah Badu as Lady / Bernadette
Adam LeFevre as Monty
Frank Langella as Rev. Duncan
Zelda Williams as Melissa
Orlando Jones as Superfly
Willie Garson as Ticket Agent
Andrée Damant as French Woman in Window

Critical reception

At review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, House of D has a score of 10%, based on 102 reviews. The consensus reads: "A sincere but inept coming of age story."^[2] Box Office Mojo gives the film a "C+" on a scale of A+ to F.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[3]

DVD release

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.^{[citation needed]}