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Ethan Hawke, James Cromwell, Richard Jenkins, James Rebhorn, Sam Shepard ... see more see more... , Eric Thal , Max von Sydow , Youki Kudoh , Rick Yune , Jan Rudes , Celia Weston , Max Wright , Arija Bareikis , Zeljko Ivanek , Caroline Kava , Zak Orth , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , Daniel von Bargen , Reeve Carney , Anne Suzuki , Frank C. Turner , Akira Takayama

Nine years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a small town in the Pacific Northwest still struggles with the troubling legacy of U.S. policies against Asian-Americans. In December 1950, just off the s... read more read more...hores of San Piedro Island in Washington, a Japanese-American man named Kazuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune) stands accused of murder after his close friend Carl Heine (Eric Thal) is found drowned in icy waters. As the trial gets under way, with Alvin Hooks (James Rebhorn) prosecuting Kazuo and Nels Gudmundsson (Max Von Sydow) defending him, reporter Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke) covers the proceedings for the local newspaper. It's difficult for Ishmael to view the trial objectively, as his first love was a Japanese-American girl named Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), who later married Kazuo. Now, Ishmael has discovered that, when the Japanese-American residents of San Piedro Island were sent to internment camps during World War II, Carl's mother used their incarceration to scuttle a land purchase by Kazuo's family. This could suggest a motive for murder, but Ishmael is reluctant to step forward with the story. Snow Falling on Cedars was based on the best-selling novel by David Guterson, adapted for the screen by Ron Bass and writer/director Scott Hicks. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

7,913 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

91 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Scott Hicks

Release Date: December 22, 1999

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DVD Release Date: May 30, 2000

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Stats: 484 reviews

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Ethan Hawke Snow Falling on Cedars
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Flixster Reviews (484)

  • aliceinpunderland
    March 10, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    Beautiful performances, cinematography, editing, and score. BUT I must say watching this film again with a total paranoid cynic who doesn't think films should get wrapped up in the awesomeness of their own beauty has harshed my mellow a bit. The montages and flashback/forward e... read morediting ARE slightly self-indulgent and they take time away from the most iconic (3 second) shot of the movie - that of the Japanese internment camp prisoners walking on the docks under a blissfully ignorant American flag. If you're gonna make a statement, damn well make it right!
  • sainttom93
    October 23, 2007
    sainttom93
    This is the first movie I've ever seen that addressed the issue of the Japanese internment during WWII (aside from the fleeting reference in Midway) -- It shows how Childhood friendship pays off in adulthood -- I loved it!
  • garyX
    August 16, 2007
    garyX
    When an american-japanese fisherman is accused of murdering an childhood friend in the shadow of WWII, Ethan Hawke finds himself trapped in a crisis of conscience when he comes across possible evidence of his innocence. This is a beautifully crafted, very literary period drama in... read more which the courtroom scenes are intercut with flashbacks from the lives of the various protagonists to produce a rich tapestry of motives, prejudices and conflicts of interest that affect their actions. It's beautifully shot in gorgeous snow-laden countryside, with a sensitive and pivotal performance by Youki Kudoh, while Max Von Sydow dominates the courtroom scenes in his inimitable style. It reminded me a little of a chilly English Patient. Except it's good.
  • Beefy
    May 13, 2007
    Beefy
    Gorgeous cinematography. I enjoyed this.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Nice film.
  • michaelcorleone
    April 28, 2009
    michaelcorleone
    This movie does minimal justice to a complex, interesting story that could have provided for a much more engaging viewing experience. Photographed with breath-taking prowess, it was fully deserving of its Best Cinematography nomination. That being said, the artificial writing det... read moreracts from the visual beauty of the film and leaves the audience feeling cheated. By the end of the film I was sick of the agitating manipulation, muddled structure, lack of character development and a nonstop barrage of cliches. Ethan Hawke and Max von Sydow perform well with the little amount of screen time they have, but the performances surrounding them are almost unanimously wooden and unconvincing. To put it plainly, this is a pretty movie to look at, but there's nothing else there.
  • mvieaddict
    August 29, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicfor disturbing images, sensuality and strong language.

    Snow falls on Cedar was more a court case movie than a romantic one that reve... read morealed the story of an American boy Ishmael and a Japanese girl Matsue. Nine years after their separation, the young lovers meet again at the trial of Matsue's husband Kazuo (Rick Yune), accused of murdering American fisherman Carl Heine.The performances and directing were unbelievable, especially Ethan Hawke in the role of Ishmael, a local reporter who was torn between love and doing the right thing. Some scenes were breath-taking and the music was amazing. A must to see.
  • jimbotender
    October 7, 2008
    jimbotender
    Who would think that after Shine Hicks would fall on mediocrity and boredom?Snow falling on cypress marbles.A metaphor?Probably,a simple flick regarding the prejudice of a noble society?Affirmative but where is the original pleasure and the heart of an auteur?
  • ileo
    December 9, 2007
    ileo
    Beautiful movie.
  • xanatos29
    March 31, 2011
    xanatos29
    A well crafted drama from director Scott Hicks (Shine). This movie feautures beautiful cinematography, and solid performances from it's entire cast, including a nice debut performance from Rick Yune as Kazuo Miyamoto. His murder trial is the main setting of the movie, but Ishmael... read more Chambers' (Ethan Hawke) undying life long love for Miyamoto's wife (Youki Kudoh), and the racism against the Japanese because of Pearl Harbor end up being the soul of the film.(B)

View All Snow Falling on Cedars Reviews

Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Snow Falling on Cedars is a motion picture of great thematic and visual richness. Full Review

(CNN.com) Paul Clinton
January 1, 2000
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com

A visual and emotional feast. Full Review

Steve Murray
January 1, 2000
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pretty but chilly. Full Review

Jami Bernard
January 1, 2000
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

Prettily photographed yet morbidly gloomy. Full Review

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Snow Falling on Cedars makes its most powerful impression in totally silent stretches. Full Review

Glenn Lovell
January 1, 2000
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

Snow fails as both mystery and star-crossed romance.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Casting Hawke as Ishmael Chambers in a mediocre movie version of Snow Falling on Cedars is pretty much the kiss of death. Full Review

Bob Thomas
January 1, 2000
Bob Thomas, Associated Press

A disappointment.

Lawrence Terenzi
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Terenzi, Mr. Showbiz

Hicks determinedly neglects almost every other narrative element for the sake of atmosphere, a decision that robs the film of almost everything that made Guterson's story compelling.

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

The actors are valiant, but not bulletproof against the screenplay's almost obsessive romanticism. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Nels Gudmundsson: Accident rules every corner of the universe... except perhaps the chambers of the human heart.
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Snow Falling on Cedars Trivia

  • Snow Falling on _______ Fill in the blank to finish the movie title...  Answer »
  • Sam Shepard and Zeljko Ivanek are in this 1999 movie starring Ethan Hawke. A newspaperman, who still carries a torch for a childhood love, could spare her falsely accused husband from being convicted of murder.   Answer »
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