Snow Falling On
Cedars
Date viewed: January 16, 2000
Location: Chelsea Cinemas, Manhattan
It just goes to show you that you should never pay attention to movie reviews - except mine, of course. I had heard such mediocre comments about this film from several big name sources that I had no desire to see it. However, I was goaded by a good friend who had read the book to accompany her to the movie. She was dying to see it and that's just the kind of guy I am.
I was glad I went. It's a sweet, soft romance with a fairly un-engaging mystery attached. Ethan Hawke plays a newspaper reporter covering the murder trial of the husband of his childhood sweetheart. That's it. And really, that's all it needs to be.
The story is told in present time (actually shortly after WWII) and we are treated to flashbacks of Ethan as a child, the beginning of WWII when Japanese-Americans were rounded up and forced into interment camps (Ethan's girlfriend is a Japanese-American), his father's liberal political views and the events surrounding the murder mystery. The flashbacks are artfully shot. There is a gentle, calming aura of the winter setting in the American northwest. Even the courtroom scenes (always in danger of lots of dull talking) are edited like a character study.
The movie builds to one climatic scene. It isn't the trail verdict or a battle scene from Ethan's stint in the army. It is one, simple, lovely sentence softly spoken in the snow. For the first time this holiday movie season, tears rolled down my cheeks.
I didn't read the book so I can't compare how the movie rates against it. I'd suspect some rabid fans and purists will not be happy with the outcome. I suggest they get over it.
Listen to me: What a pleasant surprise.
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