Passion & Prejudice

Based on the best-selling novel by David Gutterson, Snow Falling on Cedars (1999), directed by Australian filmmaker Scott Hicks (Shine), turns out to be an absorbing whodunit about prejudice and forbidden love. The director handles a disgraceful episode in American history during WW2 within a classic murder mystery. Running time: 126 minutes; rated: PG-13 Nine years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, post-war anti-Japanese sentiments are still running high at San Piedro Island near Washington State. A JapaneseAmerican named Kazuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune) is accused of murder, after a fellow fisherman Carl Heine (Eric Thal), against whose family Myamoto bore a grudge, was found dead. Kazuo is married to Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), whose heart truly belongs to her teenage-love the Caucasian newspaper-editor Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke). Through flashbacks the movie tells a cross-cultural, moving romance, which ends with the internment of Hatsues family in the camp of Manzanar, a relocation centre for Japanese Americans. The story essentially boils down to a "right and wrong choice" for Ishmael, who on the one side is reluctant to step forward with the information that may acquit Kabuo. On the other hand, he struggles with living up to his fathers (Sam Shepard) legacy as a true newspaperman. The screenwriters Ron Bass and Scott Hicks succeed in combining the themes of racism, tradition, pride, glory, love and hate, as well as justice and injustice. The movie covers the treatment of Japanese people on the West coast during WW2 when they were interned in camps out of ethnic prejudice. By setting many of the flashbacks in and around the Japanese American community during the war years, this movie illustrates the broad spectre of obvious rights violations that occurred at that time. Hicks' movie offers a stirring look at both broad political issues and the smaller ones that determine each individual's code of ethics. However, Snow Falling on Cedars is not without a few minor missteps. The dialogue occasionally goes over the top. Visually, the film is stunning. The outdoor snowscape scenes are examples of cold, breathtaking beauty and speak of an exquisite cinematography, by Robert Richardson. The music for Snow Falling on Cedars by James Newton Howard is very atmospheric and textural. There are no big themes or orchestral grandeur: it is used only for supportive reasons in form of solo performances by violin, cello and other instruments. This, coupled with the ethnic influences such as exotic flutes, makes the score a beautiful and emotional listening experience, though its dark nature can get a little depressing at times.

Wednesday, 01 December, 2010

Volgger Madleen Hannah

Snow Falling on Cedars probably isn't a film for everyone. While all mature audiences will be able to grasp its important themes and meaning, those partial to Hollywood movies with a lot of action or predictable comedy and romance will not be taken under its, overall, exquisite spell, due to a deliberately slow pace that cherishes and respects each and every one of its shots, and does not follow all of the rules of this sort of genre. Nevertheless, those audiences looking for a more challenging and intricate viewing experience will be genuinely delighted with the visual and emotional features that Snow Falling on Cedars has to offer.

Wednesday, 01 December, 2010

Volgger Madleen Hannah