What’s the Story?

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.

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Cast & Film Details

Studio

Universal Pictures

Director

Scott Hicks

Cast

• James Cromwell
• Ethan Hawke
• Youki Kudoh

Genre

Drama

Run time

127 minutes

Theatrical release

1/9/2000

MPAA rating

PG-13

MPAA explanation

language and sexual references

For Your Family