SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS

US, 1999, 126 minutes, Colour.
Ethan Hawke, James Cromwell, Richard Jenkins, James Rebhorn, Max Von Sydow, Sam Shepard, Youki Kudoh, Rick Yune, Eric Thal, Caroline Kava.
Directed by Scott Hicks.

The prolific writer Ron Bass adapted David Guterson's very popular novel of life in the US northwest and its heritage of antagonism to the local Japanese during World War II. The script was also worked on by Australian director, Scott Hicks. This was his first movie after his international success with Shine. The writers have tried to retain the feel of the novel, especially in its land and seascapes and the climate and seasons of the region. The result is that the film looks and feels authentic.

As with the novel, they have combined a nostalgic story of young love with the hardships of the war experience and the symbolising of racial hatred in a murder trial.

Ethan Hawke is credible as the young journalist who loves and respects his father but feels he is being measured according to his father's reputation. He has suffered during the war, losing an arm. Kazuo has also fought as an American soldier. Ishmael is also mystified by Hatsue's breaking off of their relationship. He proves himself honourable by forgetting personal feelings and offering the evidence that proves Kazuo's innocence.

A strong cast of character actors, led by Max Von Sydow who has the significant speech in court about prejudice, makes for a substantial drama, a moving movie, that, because of its measured pace, requires the attention of its audience.

1. The adaptation of a very popular novel? Novel into film? A cinema experience of the novel, of the plot, characters?

2. The title, its focus, the place, the mood? Visuals? Colour photography, locations, the change of seasons? Water, rain and snow? Fog, sea and land? Bleak locations, yet fruitful (the Strawberry Fair)?

3. The re-creation of the period, 1940 to 1950, the change in the United States because of World War II, the internment of the Japanese? North-west United States, the status of citizens, the status of the Japanese, background of their migration, internment? The lifestyle at the period? The symbolism and reality of the Strawberry Festival, the queen? The bonds between American-born and Japanese? The United States as united?

4. The musical score, its range of moods?

5. The United States, the 1930s, the effect of the Depression? The migrants all over the United States, settlers? Those coming from Asia, from Europe? The Japanese? The outbreak of the war, the Japanese seen as scapegoats, the innate prejudice? Bitterness, protectiveness? The transporting of the Japanese to Manzanar? The aftermath?

6. The structure of the film: the boats leading to the trial, Ishmael as the focus, as a reporter, as reporting the trial? The situation in 1950, prejudice and justice? The return of the structure to the boats, to the childhood memories, to Ishmael's father, to the Strawberry Fair, to the experience of the war, to Manzanar, to action? The cumulative effect of this structure? The editing and the juxtaposing of sequences and times?

7. The incident on the boat, Carl and Katzuo, the boats, the batteries, land? Light and the crash? The discovery of the body, the injuries? The boats, the sheriff's arrival, his stern attitude? His having to tell the wife and children? The role and judgment of the coroner?

8. The focus on the trial, Katzuo in the dock, his relationship with Hatsue, as his wife, his family? His not speaking? The prejudice and circumstantial evidence? Childhood memories? Carl's mother in the court - and her memories?

9. Ishmael, his age and experience, the war, the loss of his arm? As a reporter? In the gallery, looking at Hatsue? His memories, their growing up together, the childhood incidents, sharing, the lyrical aspects, the beach, the cave? Hatsue's mother and her not wanting her to associate with the white Americans? The school bus, her being Strawberry Queen? The contrast with Ishmael's father, publishing, printing, justice, the photos? His mother? The growing up, the hopes - and their being changed by the war?

10. The arrest of Hatsue's father, the possessions gone, the rounding up of the people, being put on the buses, going to California? The accommodation in Manzanar, the lifestyle? Hatsue's letters? Ishmael's letters? Hatsue, the influence of her mother, the breaking off of the relationship? Her marrying Tatzuo ?

11. Ishmael, the experience of war, the dead fish, drowning like Carl, the loss of his arm, having to cope - and the aftermath?

12. The land deal, Katzuo's father, Kendo, the payments for the land, the war, war action? Carl's mother and her denial of the evidence? The feelings of bitterness?

13. The role of the judge, his conduct of the case, his fairness? The people in the court, the testimony, the witnesses? His comments about shame? The night scenes, his reflections, justice?

14. The issue of the hook, the witnesses and their testimony, the coroner, Carl's mother? The Japanese and the experience of bigotry? Their sitting in the court together? The reconstruction of the events not tallying with the evidence? The judge and his comments?

15. The character of Nils, the old man, his place in society, his sense of justice, humanity, the range of questions and their being incisive? The significance of his speech about prejudice to the jury, its effect on the jury, the people of the town - and its effect on the audience?

16. Ishmael, his investigations, the lighthouse, the light, his realising the truth about the evidence, his not speaking, his mother? His looking at the editorials, remembering his father, the glasses? His change of heart, the sheriff and the examination, his evidence in the court, the Japanese and their respect for him in giving the testimony, their turning to bow? The embrace with Hatsue?

17. The theme of losing and saving lives? Prejudice and justice? A chapter in United States history?