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IMDbPro

Snow Falling on Cedars

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
A Japanese-American fisherman is accused of killing his neighbor at sea. In the 1950s, race figures into the trial. So does reporter Ishmael.
Play trailer2:21
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryRomance
A Japanese-American fisherman is accused of killing his neighbor at sea. In the 1950s, race figures into the trial. So does reporter Ishmael.A Japanese-American fisherman is accused of killing his neighbor at sea. In the 1950s, race figures into the trial. So does reporter Ishmael.A Japanese-American fisherman is accused of killing his neighbor at sea. In the 1950s, race figures into the trial. So does reporter Ishmael.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
14K
YOUR RATING
    • Scott Hicks
    • David Guterson(novel)
    • Ron Bass(screenplay)
    • Scott Hicks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Max von Sydow
    • Yûki Kudô
    • Scott Hicks
    • David Guterson(novel)
    • Ron Bass(screenplay)
    • Scott Hicks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Max von Sydow
    • Yûki Kudô
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 201User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos103

    Rick Yune co-stars as Kazuo
    Ethan Hawke stars as Ishmael
    Ishmael & Hatsue
    Young Ishmael with his father, Arthur
    Ethan Hawke stars as Ishmael Chambers
    Director Scott Hicks
    Director Scott Hicks with Max von Sydow
    11 x 17 Mini Movie Poster
    Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
    Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
    Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
    Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • Ishmael Chambers
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Nels Gudmundsson
    • (as Max Von Sydow)
    Yûki Kudô
    Yûki Kudô
    • Hatsue Miyamoto
    • (as Youki Kudoh)
    Reeve Carney
    Reeve Carney
    • Young Ishmael Chambers
    Anne Suzuki
    Anne Suzuki
    • Young Hatsue Imada
    Rick Yune
    Rick Yune
    • Kazuo Miyamoto
    James Rebhorn
    James Rebhorn
    • Alvin Hooks
    James Cromwell
    James Cromwell
    • Judge Fielding
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Sheriff Art Moran
    Arija Bareikis
    Arija Bareikis
    • Susan Marie Heine
    Eric Thal
    Eric Thal
    • Carl Heine Jr.
    Celia Weston
    Celia Weston
    • Etta Heine
    Daniel von Bargen
    Daniel von Bargen
    • Carl Heine Sr.
    • (as Daniel Von Bargen)
    Akira Takayama
    • Hisao Imada
    Ako
    Ako
    • Fujiko Imada
    Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
    Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
    • Zenhichi Miyamoto
    Zak Orth
    Zak Orth
    • Deputy Abel Martinson
    Max Wright
    Max Wright
    • Horace Whaley
      • Scott Hicks
      • David Guterson(novel)
      • Ron Bass(screenplay)
      • Scott Hicks(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the Japanese-Americans are sent to internment camps, many of the extras were Japanese-Americans who had actually been sent to the camps in the 1940s.
    • Goofs
      The American flag shown has 50 stars. At the time, the flag had 48 stars.
    • Quotes

      Nels Gudmundsson: It takes a rare thing, a turning point, to free oneself from any obsession. Be it prejudice or hate, or, even love.

    • Crazy credits
      Jan Rubes and Sheila Moore are on the credits despite their scenes being deleted.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Double Jeopardy/Jakob the Liar/Mumford (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Moon over Burma
      Written by Friedrich Hollaender (as Frederick Hollander), Frank Loesser

      Performed by Dorothy Lamour

      Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment

    User reviews201

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Love in the Cold
    Snow Falling on Cedars

    Nominated for best cinematography, this film deserved to give American Beauty a better run for its money. Sadly savaged by many critics, who seemed to fail to grasp the depth of the story and the beauty with which it was told because they were too busy analyzing the parts. Snow Falling on Cedars follows a mixed race love that is complicated by the onset of war. The reactions of the two principle characters betrays not only how human love can transcend itself into something greater but how those involved can find fulfillment in themselves through its sacrifice. The exquisite symbolism (you could write a book on the different things snow could symbolize after watching this) is never overplayed - in other words, the viewer can enjoy the film as entertainment without having "deeper meanings" rammed down their throat - but they are there in abundance, from the way the scenery is developed to small details such as the main character's name ("Ishmael" - meaning "He whom God hears").
    helpful•31
    4
    • Chris_Docker
    • May 27, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 2000 (United States)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
      • Universal Studios - Site Index (United States)
      • English
      • Japanese
      • German
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • The Kennedy/Marshall Company
      • Soundfirm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 7 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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