Review of Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) by Timothy S — 22 Jan 2013

"Snow Falling on Cedars" is an ambitious, multi-faceted drama that touches on a time in our history that most Americans would just as soon forget. Very few films have focused on our internment of the Japanese after the bombing at Pearl Harbor, and that is the backdrop of this love story and courtroom drama.

It does so honestly, without being exploitative, as the story is compelling enough without even focusing on that aspect of it. Nothing about the film is conventional, from the beautiful photography to the way the narrative unfolds. It's based on a popular novel by David Gutenson, and the film reveals all of its secrets and key plot points much like a book would through the use of interlocking flashbacks.

At the center of the tale is a murder trial that makes up the bulk of the central mystery, but the heart is the love story centered around Ethan Hawke and Youki Kudoh. The scenes of their budding relationship as children are tender and sweet, and they lay the groundwork for what becomes Hawke's growing dilemma. The internal conflict is laid out when he learns of some vital information that could set Kudoh's husband free, and the script by Ronald Bass resolves the issue in the only way that makes sense. It leads to a heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting final scene.

You have to admire the integrity of filmmaker Scott Hicks and the spellbinding glorious cinematography that simply envelops you in this story. "Snow Falling on Cedars" is a remarkable, multilayered film that tells several tales at once and juggles them expertly. The romance is only half the story.