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Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Robert Loggia ... see more see more... , Jim Broadbent , Mario Adorf , Peter Capaldi , Bob Peck , Tom Wilkinson , Jürgen Vogel , Emma Croft , Clipper Miano , Agga Olsen , Charles Lewsen , Charlotte Bradley , Matthew Marsh , Ono Fleischer , Patrick Field

Julia Ormond stars as Copenhagen resident Smilla Jasperson, a reclusive, half-Inuit scientist who befriends a neglected Inuit boy who lives in her building. Arriving home from work one day, Smilla is ... read more read more...mortified to learn that the boy has died in a fall from the building's roof. Suspicious because she knows that her young friend was afraid of heights, Smilla probes into the "accident." Her only ally is an enigmatic man known as the Mechanic (Gabriel Byrne), who also lives in the building and seems sympathetic. Smilla discovers that the boy's family is connected to a mining company conducting top-secret research in her ancestral home of Greenland. Then she spies the Mechanic and the company's president (Richard Harris) dining together. Is she a paranoid conspiracy theorist or a sleuth uncovering a bizarre murder mystery? When a retired secretary (Vanessa Redgrave) helps her make a critical discovery, Smilla sets off for Greenland, where the otherworldly, prehistoric answer to her questions awaits. Danish director Bille August's previous film Pelle the Conqueror (1987) also concerned the bond between an adult Denmark émigré and a child. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

58% liked it

4,913 ratings

Critics

52% liked it

33 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Bille August

Release Date: February 28, 1997

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DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001

Stats: 217 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (217)

  • SirPant
    September 16, 2009
    SirPant
    Smilla's Sense of Snow has an eerie yet hypnotic style to it that really caught me by surprise. This is a mysterious film, based on a bestseller that I confess, I?ve not read, so can't comment on as an adaptation but I can recommend this to anyone who likes their films to be bot... read moreh original, compelling and highly unpredictable!
  • bbcfloridabound
    March 11, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    The Best Movie I have seen for the Month of March, ranks as an all time high. Smilla is a star. The suspense will keep you on the edge of your chair. I can't believe that this film didn't get more awards, its a sleeper. Other then the Berlin International Film Festival I don't t... read morehink it showed up anywhere else. The young boy played a good part. A must see must add to any collection, starts in Greenland then to Denmark, my type of film, one that shows anything but America. 5 Stars. Thank you.
  • bcavros
    September 11, 2010
    bcavros
    If it bothers you when you like a song and don?t know all the words to, this is not a movie for you. If you don?t mind humming your way through the verses to get to the refrain you?ll probably like this movie. I love this movie even with its abrupt transitions and so-so plot. Per... read moresonal bias, yes, Julia Ormond is gorgeous, but the role plays to her strengths. She is a kept well off by here Anglo father which she resents and tries to keep to her mothers Inuit roots. Unlike Legends of the fall, First Knight and some what Sabrina, she is cast as an active participant in her life and it works. At a cursory review it?s a Nancy Drew mystery grown up, but Its really more about her relationship to the boy who dies and how that pans out across the mystery which is her own self perception. I couldn?t be a spoiler if I wanted to I can?t remember what was under the ice, but it?s not really important in the scheme of the movie
  • mayrei
    November 8, 2011
    mayrei
    I'm not sure why I love this movie so much, but it's been one of my favorites for years. It has a very interesting vibe, the acting is fantastic, and Smilla is one of my favorite female characters ever.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 17, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    The Name gave me the idea I was in for a Sweet Little Film, what a Surprise that it was a Conspiracy Thriller.Really Quite a Pleasant Surprise.
  • TonyPolito
    November 17, 2010
    TonyPolito
    They don't have evil corporations in Denmark like we do in America, which is why this book and film were such a big hit there ... and not so interesting here.

    A woman sees some small clues that prove to her a 6 year old boy was murdered, that it was not the accident it appeared... read more to be. From there, she constantly swims upstream, sleuthing away, while a boring confused romantic subplot plods along as well. By the end of the film, the big corporate scheme she uncovers is so unbelievable that the viewer gets mad and wants his/her time and money back.

    RECOMMENDATION: Not an absolute stinker, but best to skip it all the same.
  • jjb3332003
    June 29, 2009
    jjb3332003
    The first half is taut and interesting, while the second half degenerates into a second-rate thriller. It seemed quite obvious that there was just not enough time to cover what must be a great book. Dan Brown's Deception Point feels like a blatant rip-off.
  • flowman1
    February 4, 2007
    flowman1
    Julia Ormond is gorgeous in this film, and the cinematography suits the mystery story element of the movie very well.
  • flynnparadox
    October 5, 2006
    flynnparadox
    A uniquely compelling and engrossing thriller. Billie August's perplexing and fascinating film contains Julia Ormond's single best performance and has a bizarre, oddball plot and wonderful supporting performances from Gabriel Byrne and Richard Harris. A brilliant thriller.

View All Smilla's Sense of Snow Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

This tough-to-peg whodunit keeps you going for two hours, despite a few James Bond-ish (or Jane Bond-ish) turns that play less preposterously than you might assume were they to be divulged.

Cole Smithey
February 7, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Bad title, good movie.

Rob Thomas
November 10, 2005
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

An atmospheric and enjoyably preposterous mystery.

Carol Cling
September 2, 2005
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Fascinating setting and strong performances make up for the far-fetched plotting.

Michael Dequina
January 13, 2004
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

A truly outlandish twist that would be more at home in a no-brainer Hollywood action film than in what purports to be an intelligent adult thriller. Full Review

Jon Niccum
June 16, 2003
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Odd, atmospheric thriller that completely falls apart in the finale

Nell Minow
January 3, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

The idiotic ending seems to belong to another movie.

Rob Vaux
December 30, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

An underrated and effective thriller, buoyed by a fine performance from Julia Ormond.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 23, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Reveals zeal to be a virtue when it is put into practice as service of others. Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
February 28, 2002
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

Don't think too much about it, and you'll be fine. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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