Directed by:  Scott Hicks
Written by:  Ron Bass, Scott Hicks
Adapted from the Novel by:  David Guterson
Starring:  Ethan Hawke, Youki Kudoh, Rick Yune, Sam Shepard, James Cromwell, Max von Sydow, Richard Jenkins
 

December 3, 2001

        During WWII, due to the ignorant fear by the masses, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill that put thousands upon thousands of Japanese-Americans into what amounted to concentration camps.  They were uprooted from their homes and their families, some arrested for ridiculous crimes; their individual rights were being trampled on and this was all upheld by the law.  I'm sure this country would like to forget this atrocity, which is one of the reasons Scott Hicks' film Snow Falling on Cedars faded off into mediocrity in terms of its success.
        Adapted from David Guterson's novel of the same name, Snow Falling on Cedars tells the story of a small town trial, the Japanese-American U.S. officer who's accused of a homicide, and the reporter who must come to terms with his own prejudices and loss in order to report the truth.  Ishmael Chambers (Hawke) and Hatsue Miyamoto (Kudoh) are childhood sweethearts.  Because of Hatsue's upbringing and the prejudice she is instilled with by her mother, she breaks off the childhood romance with Ishmael.
        Ishmael is then sent off to war brokenhearted and comes back minus an arm.  Meanwhile, Hatsue has gone off and married Kazue (Rick Yune's, debut film role; also in The Fast and the Furious), whose heritage of course pleases her mother.  Kazue is the one standing trial and Ishmael discovers some evidence that may prove him innocent.  Ishmael must come to terms with his lost love and stand up for what's right.
        This is a timeless story of heroes, lost love, and racism told mostly through flashbacks.  These flashbacks work well because of the abstract way they're edited together; it gives them a feeling of memories.  Although it begins in the courtroom, this isn't your average courtroom drama. 
        Director Scott Hicks was praised for Shine, but I think this film is actually better.  The script is brilliant in the way it mends together the different images and memories to tell the story.  The cinematography of the landscapes and snow-covered horizons lends itself to a beautiful setting as well.
        Snow Falling on Cedars is definitely worth checking out if you missed in the theater.  I'm surprised it wasn't more highly praised, but we can assume it's because as Americans, we like to forget the atrocities our country has committed in the past.
 

        The Snow Falling on Cedars DVD comes with some very informative features.  You can read about Manzanar, one of the camps the Japanese were hauled off to, or read the production notes.  Both of these are helpful in providing some background, even before you watch the film.
        The "Spotlight on Location" is about a 20-minute documentary on the film.  It's interesting and gives you some detail on how Hicks worked with the author of the book. 
        The deleted scenes are all thrown together, which I don't like, along with scenes that are just shot from different angles.  I prefer the deleted scenes separate with director commentary, which is also missing.
        Aside from those features, there are the usual trailers and cast overview.  What's interesting is that nowhere on the DVD does it mention that Rick Yune is Korean.  I guess they thought the average moviegoer wouldn't notice a person of Korean decent playing a Japanese character.
 

Recommended Alternatives:  Gattaca (s: Hawke), Focus, Hannah and Her Sisters (von Sydow) 

-Reviewed on DVD-

         Unfortunately, I missed a treasure during this year that I would like to point out now, and the nominations it could have been up for. 1999 was such a great year in film, and Snow Falling on Cedars ranks up there with the best of that year.