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Snow Falling on Cedars

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Romance

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
6.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Scott Hicks
  • Writers
    • David Guterson(novel)
    • Ronald Bass(screenplay)
    • Scott Hicks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Max von Sydow
    • Yûki Kudô
Top credits
  • Director
    • Scott Hicks
  • Writers
    • David Guterson(novel)
    • Ronald Bass(screenplay)
    • Scott Hicks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Max von Sydow
    • Yûki Kudô
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 200User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer

    Photos101

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It's 1950 on San Pedro Island in the American Pacific Northwest. Commercial fisher Carl Heine Jr.'s dead body is pulled out of the water in a fishing net by his crew, he who died of head trauma. Kazuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder. Carl and Kazuo were once friends, had known each other since childhood, but WWII has placed a strain on any sort of relationship between the ethic Japanese and Caucasian populations of the area, the Japanese population which was and is still substantial on the island. Carl had motive regarding a land dispute between the two families, land which Carl's mother eventually sold from under the Miyamotos and which Carl had just repurchased. Evidence also points to Kazuo being on the water with Carl probably sometime during his last voyage, evidence which Kazuo knew would put him in a bad light, adding on top of being Japanese, and thus decided not to disclose to the investigating sheriff at the time he was questioned. Kazuo and his wife Hatsue's fear come to realization in that there are racist overtones to the questioning by the prosecutor, Alvin Hooks, in playing to existing anti-Japanese sentiment. Among the many locals following the proceedings is Ishmael Chambers, the owner/editor of the local newspaper, he who took it over following the passing of his father, the previous owner Arthur Chambers. Arthur was one of the few Caucasians on the island who came to the defense of the local Japanese during their internment because of the war. Ishmael, a veteran who lost his left arm in battle, has more personal than professional interest in the case as he has been in love with Hatsue since they were in their youth. Hatsue broke off their clandestine romance to marry Kazuo, Ishmael not knowing out of pressure from her mother to marry within their own culture. It is his feelings for Hatsue that Ishmael has his own motives for wanting to find out the truth of what happened to Carl. —Huggo
    • injustice
    • japanese
    • fictional island
    • fbi federal bureau of investigation
    • japanese internment
    • 164 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • First loves last. Forever.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, sensuality and brief strong language
    • Parents guide

    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 reviews200

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A murder-mystery / love story set against the backdrop of a small island community in post-WWII north western United States.
    This movie is based on the book of the same name by author David Guterson. It is *highly* recommended to read the book before watching this movie as, in the opinion of this reviewer, the movie is an unintelligible mess that leaves out vitally important material to the understanding of the plot.

    While it is not always possible to retain the feeling and spirit of a work of fiction through the screenplay writing process, I believe that this is one case in which the screen writers failed to capture the essence of the characters and what the author was trying to impart, despite the fact that Mr. Guterson was involved in the process.

    Even though the movie departs from book in several vital area's that drastically change the symbology and moral of the story, the cinematography in this movie is splendid; it captures a feeling of 1950's Americana in very convincing fashion and by itself, this imagery brings much of the feeling of time home to the viewer in a real and emotionally dramatic sense.

    It is really too bad that more was not done to preserve the beautiful symbology of the book and, though it must be a difficult task, that the essence of the characters was not more carefully interpretted in a true-to-the-book fashion. The director comments that he was not attempting a very literal translation, and in this I think he makes a rather grave mistake and ends up doing both the movie and the story a disservice.

    Again, I highly recommend reading the book before watching this movie, even though it might take away from your appreciation of the cinematography as you struggle to reconcile the directors choices with the authors obvious intended meaning.
    helpful•2
    0
    • allankh
    • Mar 29, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
      • Universal Studios - Site Index (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Засніжені кедри
    • 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
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,417,593
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $32,135
      • Dec 26, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,049,593
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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    Sep 30Variety Film + TV

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