Product: Snow Falling on Cedars (2000)
Rating: 5.0
This is by far one of the most beautiful films ever made.
If there ever was a film that was close to perfection, I would say Snow Falling On Cedars is about the best contender. I have yet to see a heavy duty drama with such incredible cinematography, music and storyline. The plot is so well executed by telling the story in partial flashbacks, that the characters mold perfectly before your eyes. The music alone could speak for the scenes in this film. The acting is so poised and penetrating, that you feel like you are interacting on a personal level with the players, rather than just observing them. I won't give the plot away. But what I will tell you is that this film's social message is very strong and not one we usually hear about. Perhaps because it is such a scar on our nation's past. Snow Falling On Cedars is a film as far as medium is concerned. But when watching it, I felt I was looking at a painting and reading a poem. This is a drama which words can do no justice to. Like he did in Shine, Director Scott Hicks once again waves a magic wand which conjures the most dazzling performances out of his actors. There is a balance in this film between cinematography, music, sound and performances that I have never seen before- and that's coming from someone as hypercritical as myself. By far the first thing audiences will notice in this film is the cinematography. If it does not take your breath away, then you must already be dead.