Snow Falling on Cedars (PG-13)
Good movie for adults and older teens.
(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Directed By: Scott Hicks
- Release Date: 01/09/2000
- Genre: Drama
- MPAA Rating: PG-13
- MPAA Explanation: language and sexual references
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that there are some battle scenes and a graphic amputation, and some inexplicit but intimate scenes of married couples having sex and teenagers making out.
Families can talk about how several characters in the movie hesitate before acting and the consequences of the delays and what factors led them to decide the way they do. Families could also talk about this style of story-telling. Is it supposed to represent the internal thoughts of the characters or is there some sort of narrator putting together the story like a jigsaw puzzle? And families could also talk about the Japanese internment, one of the most shameful episodes in this country's history, and about the half-century effort it took to get an apology and a small payment for damages.
Families can talk about how several characters in the movie hesitate before acting and the consequences of the delays and what factors led them to decide the way they do. Families could also talk about this style of story-telling. Is it supposed to represent the internal thoughts of the characters or is there some sort of narrator putting together the story like a jigsaw puzzle? And families could also talk about the Japanese internment, one of the most shameful episodes in this country's history, and about the half-century effort it took to get an apology and a small payment for damages.
Message
Social Behavior:
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
Graphic amputation scene, battle scenes, autopsy, scenes of alleged murder
Sex
Several inexplicit but intimate scenes of married sex.
Language
One strong word, several milder terms.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Nell Minow
Late one night, in 1950 Washington state, a Caucasian fisherman named Carl Heine drowned, and circumstantial evidence indicates that he might have been murdered. The last person to see him was a Japanese fisherman, Kazuo Miyamoto, who had a motive -- Heine owned land that would have belonged to Miyamoto's family if not for the Japanese internment during World War II.
Is it any good?
There has never been a movie more literally true to its title -- SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS is indeed a movie with many long, loving scenes of snow falling on cedars. There are also scenes of raindrops plopping in puddles and autumn leaves blowing and children running on the beach. In between, there is a story, impressionistically told, about a murder trial.
As journalist Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke) sits in the balcony of the courtroom taking notes, the background is revealed in snippets and images: Ishmael and Miyamoto's wife, Hatsue, devoted to each other as children and teenagers. Ishmael's father, losing subscribers and advertisers because of his editorials against racism. Heine's father, promising Miyamoto's father that he would not foreclose while they were in the interment camp. Heine's mother, foreclosing after her husband died. Hatsue's mother, telling her to stay away from white boys. Ishmael, unable to stop thinking about Hatsue.
Other choices
Come See the Paradise
A Walk in the Clouds
A Walk in the Clouds
Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 1 reviews.
Adult Reviews
There are 0 reviews.
There are no adult reviews.
Kids Reviews
There are 1 reviews.
What do your kids do online?
Surf
34%
Homework and research
19%
Download music
10%
Chat with friends
37%
132 votes