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• A beautiful, sensual and strange story posted on 13 Jul 2009

  Although it's a very unusual story, this film has it all. It's a poetic, crazy, warm, low-key, sensual and profound film about fragile and strange human beings, as are we all. The suspense is even there, but not the lead motive of the film, thank God. Because the film has intriguing characters. Performed by well casted and outstanding actors with presence, seriousness and humor. The voice of Alan Rickman, the sensuality of Carrie-Ann Moss and the the brilliant mixture of childishness and maturity in the Sigourney Weaver character. Nice and simple photographed with brilliant transcendent images in a winterly Canada-landscape. Well-paced edited. The music is "in tune" and not dominating as often is with a lot of movies nowadays. The film makes me laugh, cry and wonder. It presents me with a strange world but still it is very recognizable. What more can we expect from a film ?

• Touching bereavement drama posted on 19 Jun 2009

  An affecting although occasionally naive picture.I liked the texture and the aesthetic. The film's look is bleached out and grainy, as if it had been shot on 16mm. Getting a grip on the passing of time is less easy than one thinks, given that the story-telling is quite straightforward. That and some hit-n-miss arty inserts (I particularly dislike the ice melting as Alex opens up to one of the local women) give a sense of fable.The acting is very good indeed. Rickman, though strangely cast is watchable as ever. Sigourney Weaver is brilliant, giving a mature version of her agoraphobic from Copycat twelve years ago. Carrie Anne-Moss's Maggie is functional - most of all I was impressed by the important early cameo of Emily Hampshire's Vivienne.For all it's clumsiness, the film is more often than not involving, funny and well thought out. It's also never less than lovely. 6/10

• Not to be missed posted on 06 May 2009

  "Snowcake" is a slightly offbeat movie in the same vein as "Sideways" and "Broken flower", offering a good mix of humour and poignancy as well as thoughtful insight into human nature. It leans towards being out of the ordinary but does not go overboard to be bizarre. It takes place in Wawa, Ontario, a small town (population of several thousand) that reflects the rugged beauty of "North of Superior" (see IMDb listing). Prominently featured in several scenes is the 28-foot tall sculpture Canada Goose that marks the entrance to the town. I have not been to Wawa, but had once come within a hundred miles, from the Sault St. Marie side.One of the three main protagonists is an outsider, Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman), who picks up a hitchhiker, teenager Vivienne Freeman (Emily Hampshire) on her way home to Wawa. Aspiring to be a writer, she approaches Alex with the belief that since he looks so lonely, he must have a good story of his life to tell. Tragically, Vivienne never gets home as their car gets into an accident which leaves Alex unscathed but kills her. The rest of the story happens in the ensuing week in Wawa, where Alex tries to help Vivienne's autistic mother Linda (Sigourney Weaver) arrange the funeral. Through interaction with Linda and other inhabitants of this town, Alex finds absolution from a guilt that has been weighting heavily on him. The number one key character of "Snowcake", however, is unquestionably Linda.Rather than getting into all the details that should be left for the viewers to enjoy, I would just mention some of the interesting aspects of this movie. The biggest challenge is to make Linda believable. An average moviegoer is not expected to have much experience with an autistic person. The closest impression one gets is probably the "Rain man" version. If Dustin Hoffman was good enough with his performance to win an Oscar, Weaver certainly is also, for "Snowcake". At her first appearance, at her doorstep answering Alex's knock, Linda does not appear to have been grieved, acknowledging almost in a matter-of-fact manner that she heard about the death of her daughter two hours ago. It isn't until towards the end of the movie, after we have spent a considerable amount of time with Linda, that we begin to understand that perhaps she can retain in a corner of her mind a much more solid picture of her lost daughter than a normal person can. This becomes clear in the "dancing" scene at the post-funeral gathering at Linda's place. In a sense, she has not really lost Vivienne.Linda doesn't "do socials", as she explains to Alex right at the beginning. At times she seems closed to everything around her but she is not entirely unreachable. At times (especially on important things) she is more sensible than "normal" people, such as in the way she deals with her daughter's death. At other times, she is irritating, or even exasperating, but endearingly so. Sounds absurd but just watch Weaver make this character believable – it's a Sigourney Weaver you've never seen before.Also never seen before is Carrie-Anne Moss, playing warm hearted neighbour Maggie with sensuousness in such a mellowed sort of way that will make you gasp. All of a sudden, you realise that watching too much "Alien" and "Matrix" has blurred your perception to what these two wonderful actresses are capable of. I am not too surprised that so many people go to see Snowcake just because of Rickman. They will of course be delighted to get a lot more than Rickman, but he alone is a good enough reason. Although not quite to the extent of Murray's minimalism in "Broken Flowers", Rickman plays a remorseful man with subdued hesitancy. It's when Alex interacts with Linda that they both come to life. In addition to those three, there is an excellent supporting cast, particularly Emily Hampshire.One final word: somewhere in the middle of the movie, there is one moment when the audience of the show I attended broke out in spontaneous, thunderous applause. You should have no problem recognizing it – Rickman was speaking – and you'll probably get the same reaction in your show anyway.I am not sure when "Snowcake" will be screened commercially or go to the film festival in your city. But when it does, don't miss it.

• A shame ... posted on 16 Apr 2009

  ... that this movie has not been as well received and viewed as it should have been. Even most of the awards shows, didn't give any kudos! And after you'll watch the movie, you will be wondering why. I saw it at the International Film Fest (in Berlin), where it was also nominated for best Director.The movie starts with the introduction of Alan Rickmans character, who is obviously a man who isn't open to the world. We will find out why, but before that, we are introduced to a girl who is bugging him. At first she annoys him, but not for long ...This all plays in the first few minutes of the film, so it's not a spoiler. If you want to know more, you can read the plot outline, found somewhere on this site. If I were you, I wouldn't do that. Just rent the movie and watch ... if you like a drama that is also funny in quirky kind of way, but still feels real, than you are going to enjoy this, as I did!

• A gem ! posted on 25 Mar 2009

  This is a film about real human beings. Whilst the characters may be placed in an unusual situation, it is totally credible and immensely engaging. It could happen to any one of us, only who amongst us can vouch that we would behave with the same integrity? It's about life,difference, tolerance and love, as well as bigots. The cinematography is excellent, the acting is superb. It's the first time I've seen Ms Hampshire .... she is absolutely stunning and I think destined to do more great performances. Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman are brilliant in their different ways. The other lovely thing about this film is that it's so "non-Hollywood". Watching this film I got to laugh, cry and feel that people can amaze and inspire.

• Great Performances In A Movie That Seemed To Lack A Clear Purpose posted on 03 Mar 2009

  In reviewing this movie, the first thing that has to be mentioned are the great performances from the two leads: Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. Weaver was absolutely unbelievable as Linda Freeman, a woman suffering from autism who is confronted by her daughter's death in a car accident, while Rickman was almost as good (almost because he has a less demanding role) as Alex Hughes (the man who was driving the car in which Linda's daughter was killed.) After the accident, Alex takes it upon himself to visit Linda, and the movie basically follows the relationship the two develop. That, mind you, may be the movie's greatest weakness. I didn't really see either purpose or closure to this. Yes, we watch the relationship evolve, but personally I didn't think either Linda or Alex ever really moved on. I'm not sure after watching this what I wanted them to do, but everything in the end seemed so unresolved. Yes, I learned a lot about living with autism - and Weaver apparently researched the role studiously - but I still kept wondering where this was going and I never really got an answer.Having said that, this was still an enjoyable movie because of Weaver and Rickman, although I confess that I did wonder why - in a Canadian/British production - the need was felt to cast an American actress in the lead role? I appreciated the setting of the movie. Having lived a few years in Northern Ontario, the "feel" seemed realistic, with perhaps the one exception being the reaction of the neighbours to Linda dancing at Vivienne's wake. The movie seemed to portray their disapproval, whereas - knowing these types of communities - I believe the townsfolk would be far more understanding of Linda's "differences." That aside, I would still highly recommend this movie. It features some of the best acting you'll find anywhere. 7/10

• Wonderful posted on 17 Feb 2009

  I should begin by saying this is truly a wonderful film My lodger interrupted my session on the net to say she had a film I probably wouldn't like I dislike when people assume I won't like something, that and a restless Sunday boredom made me wander in with her to give it a try Like others here I assumed it would be overly long and but in the end cast my doubts to the wind and so began a thoroughly engaging experience At first I assumed Vivenne was the austistic person because of her tendency to ignore social norms and sit down and begin chatting to a total stranger She was so likable my doubts were overcome and I really looked forward to watching the rest of the film and their disjointed relationship. This of course was not to be I genuinely mourned for Vivienne and this dynamic of identifying with their loss left me with no sense of detachment and I love this film for making me feel this way. The translation of an autistic woman completely transformed my view of Sigourney Weaver and I completely was drawn into her as Linda Alex was just as great in his role as an emotionally walled man who probably wanted nothing but to be left alone cut off from all human contact Somehow the two came together perfectly portrayed There is so much to laugh at too, many small details in the tragic situation that is so much like real life. I will not forget the bunk bed... I'm still chuckling now Others have said much better than me why this is a good film. But one thing I noticed was that the ending, Alex I believe would not be gone for long. That film didn't say it, but it was implied leaving you with a strong emotion that this was the case, far better than a typical Hollywood ending. The film lives on in your heart as these characters surely would

• I cannot believe how much I loved this film. posted on 15 Feb 2009

  Bravo to everyone involved with this gem. Many people will compare Sigourney Weaver's performance with Dustin Hoffman's in Rainman, which is unfair, because the characters do not share the same handicap at all. I have not been around a lot of autistic individuals. In fact, the only autistic person that I ever met was my best friends niece whom I saw a lot growing up. She was probably more highly functioning than the Siguorney Weaver character, but Ms. Weaver's acting was Oscar caliber. I would be blown away if she gets an Oscar nod and although I have not yet seen the Queen, Helen Mirren probably has a lock this year, but I hope this performance is seen and remembered at awards time.Alan Rickman plays a tortured soul like no other actor, and gives a moving performance. Carrie Ann Moss wears no makeup and comes off ten times sexier than she does in Matrix leather, and that is sexy.At some point this film will be compared to "The Curious Incident of the Dog at in the night-time" which is supposed to be filmed by Steven Kloves, and should pose a great challenge to translate from book to screen. And what a wonderful book that was as well. I probably liked that book even better than this film, but I will be greatly surprised if the Kloves film captures what this film managed to do. Angela Pells has written a moving script. At times hilarious, frequently touching, and one of the best "little" films that I have ever seen. Don't miss it.

• Excellent movie, story, acting, editing. Set in Canada. posted on 07 Feb 2009

  I have become a big fan of the acting of Alan Rickman. Here he is Alex Hughes, a man of few words and who doesn't seem to warm up easily to others. We find out he has just come out of prison for killing a man, but we don't learn why until rather late in the story.While traveling towards his destination after a flight, and in a restaurant, he is approached by young and talented Emily Hampshire as Vivienne Freeman. By her demeanor and dress, with streaks of purple-blue in her hair, we see that she is is a bit different. Even though there is plenty of room elsewhere, she asks Alex if she can sit at his small table. It turns out she is looking for a ride, which he is in no hurry to offer. But eventually she ends up in his car.Vivienne is on her way to her mother's, Sigourney Weaver as Linda Freeman. When we first meet Linda we realize that there is something very different about her. We find out that she is autistic and even though she can communicate very well, she has no sensitivity, is very blunt with everyone, and doesn't care if she offends people. If she doesn't want visitors she says so. And she is extremely fastidious about her living space, especially her kitchen where no one is allowed.The other main character is Carrie-Anne Moss who lives right behind Linda in the small town. Linda refers to her as "a prostitute". Their characters become intertwined.I liked this movie because it is very different, and it examines the human condition, how very unusual people can come together and find some common ground for the good of each. All the actors are good, but Rickman shines.SPOILERS: Just as Alex and Vivienne get going, as he waits for traffic to clear, a speeding truck hits them on the passenger side and Vivienne dies. Dumbstruck, Alex manages to find out who her mother is and travels to Wawa to find her. She seems indifferent, her daughter is dead, that's just the way it is, she is gone. Alex ends up staying for a few days, meets the neighbor, and comes to grips with some of his old issues.

• Simply excellent ! posted on 28 Jan 2009

  "Snow Cake" is the best drama film which I'v seen for all last years. All actors have played is simply remarkable. Alan Rickman has very uneasy role and it has gone right to it on glory. As to Sigourney Weaver that at me simply is not present words. A role simply shaking. It has played it too superb. I for a long time did not test similar emotions at viewing any film. Here I simply could not constrain some tears. All occurred in accuracy as it and would be in a life. Any superfluous moments. Any exaggerations. Any happy and semi-happy ends. Film is precisely sustained. Droplets superfluous. All crew worked very well! All fans of the given genre are simply obliged to look this movie. And so much recommend it to others. U'll not regret.

• THIS is what great movies are made of. posted on 20 Jan 2009

  I'll be the first to admit: Picking up this movie was an act of pure spontaneity for me. I had an extra twelve dollars on hand, saw it on the shelf of the local Best Buy, and thought, "Oh, what the hell." I had been going on a recent Alan Rickman fling, so I decided to annex this unknown film to my collection. To be honest, what made me pick it up was the picture on the back cover of Alan being restrained by the police. It seemed rather intense. I bought it, took it home, and then around midnight I popped it into my laptop, expecting something pretty good. I did not expect something truly spectacular.Lately I've been telling people that this is my all-time favorite movie, and I haven't changed my all-time favorite movie since Silence of the Lambs came out. Let me tell you: Snow Cake deserves the number one slot. It is undoubtedly the peak performance of both Alan's and Sigourney's careers, and if they manage to pull off something even more impressive, I will hale them as the greatest actors of our generation -- though I have already bestowed this title upon Mr. Rickman. I have shown this movie to dozens of friends, and each of them said the same thing of Alan's abilities in Snow Cake; he acts as if he isn't acting at all. In every one his movies, but in this one in particular, he has this innate skill of making you believe he IS the person he plays. There is no falter in his performance, no moment when you question him. His emphasis in empathy with the audience is truly stunning. Mr. Rickman's portrayal of a flawed Alex Hughes is utterly flawless in and of itself.From what I have read, the most controversial aspect of Snow Cake is in Sigourney Weaver's performance. It seems to me that you either love her or you hate her. I most definitely fall into the former category; having an autistic but highly verbal brother myself, I very much appreciated the obvious research she put into her role. I have watched this movie with my mother, and every time she displayed a new compulsion or tic, we commented on how we had seen these exact same expressions from my brother. I'm very appreciative that Ms. Weaver studied her part so thoroughly, whereas some actors would have not done nearly as meticulous a job of getting into the mind of an autistic person.I've watched Snow Cake five times even within the past three days, and I have yet to tire of its breathtakingly moving performances, beautiful artistic cinematography, and heart-wrenching storyline. I have never been so appreciative of such little aspects of movies as I am in Snow Cake, such as tiny quirks of the eyebrow from Alan, or the subtle inability to meet other's eyes from Sigourney. There isn't a single part of this film that I would alter, and as a film fanatic, this is quite the accomplishment. Go out and find this movie: You will not be disappointed.

• Better make sure you know Sigourney Weaver before this or else you may actually think she's autistic posted on 01 Dec 2008

  An absolutely amazing film, I just saw it at SIFF.A great film, Alan Rickman does an amazing performance, and you actually believe Sigourney weaver is autistic, Carrie-Anne Moss is also good, and Emily Hampshire gives an extrodornary performance for such a small part, although it does set the tone for the film, In my opinion if the opportunity presents itself to see this film take it, it's absolutely stunning, and it makes you believe Marc Evans is the world's greatest director when really he's just starting out.Today most films, especially dramas, are easy to have predictable endings and character origins, but this one really surprised me, from the beginning of the film you hear that Alex "killed someone" this made me believe he didn't kill them and possibly an autistic man he lost his patience with, when in all actuality he accidentally killed the man who killed the son he never knew. An amazing film with stellar performances from a stellar cast, you need to see it.

• Beautiful posted on 06 Oct 2008

  A gorgeous movie - very thoughtful, very well done. Alan Rickman gave a fantastic performance. The photography was really well done - I especially liked the scene where they are sitting on the rocks by the lake, with all the melt water and melting ice and snow. The lighting was beautiful. As for the perspective of autism (or is it Asperger's syndrome?????), - this was really well done as well; Sigourney gives a wonderful performance. Carrie-Ann Moss also gave a solid performance, although one wonders a bit what a women like her would be doing living in Wawa (have you ever been to Wawa anyone?). Emily Hampshire was brilliant, perfectly casted for this role. She stayed with us through the entire movie. The soundtrack of the music was also really well thought out.

• A truly touching film, well acted and produced. posted on 30 Sep 2008

  On face value Snowcake has all the makings of a truly average movie. Shot over just 27 days in Wawa, Ontario with Angela Pell a screen writer previously unheard of in the film industry, Marc Evans a director that appeared to be on the up but really hadn't struck a chord with a mass audience and the tag-line 'Sometimes stopping is the most important part of the journey'. Let's hope people don't stop there.This in mind, it's impossible to ignore the real inspiration of the story, as Pell's autistic son contributed to the character of Linda (Sigourney Weaver). And the quality of actors and actresses drawn in by the script, with Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss who played the almost femme-fatale Maggie. So, the film doesn't seem too bad if you look closer, especially with the massive fan bases of Weaver and Rickman in eager anticipation, it can be said that they offer one of the best performances of their careers. As for the first time screen writing's of Angela Pell, I couldn't describe to you the passion, the wit and the humour she injected into a passionate and truly emotive film.An elderly man on a plane. Not the most exciting of opening shots, but none-the-less it is undeniably the silence before the storm of emotions Snowcake has to offer any audience. At the foremost the focus is on the journey of Alex (Alan Rickman) as he struggles with a difficult past; a dead son, a murder conviction and a loneliness perfectly presented in an enchanting performance by Rickman.Straightaway the audience is faced by the stark contrasts between Alex and Vivienne (Emily Hampshire); a young woman with an energy and enthusiasm for life that is only exaggerated further by the reclusive Alex. However, something gave way in him and submitting to her charm he allows her to tag along - a decision that shapes the whole film.Despite the humour surrounding Alex's awkward approach to the problems in the film, there is a smooth transition into the deeply touching, realism of the film and the story it tells. As we tackle the reality of Vivienne's premature death, it is hard to fight back a tear for the change it inspires in Alex who, for an initially withdrawn and quite man, has a huge emotional journey, from which he is clearly far from the character we initially meet.Boldly confronting the problems of autism in Sigourney Weaver's character Linda, the audience can't help but laugh at some of the interactions she has with Alex (Alan Rickman). It is hard not to feel the presence of some guilt, as some of the humour is set in an almost mocking tone, but the true beauty of the film is that the laughter actually veers away from this and leaves us laughing as we warm to the characters involved.For a film with a strong plot, a good cast to support it and the star's fan bases in tow, the movie has not been done justice in the slightest in its distribution. For a movie that seems to appeal to a wide audience -perhaps only letting the gun firing action lover down, I just don't feel it was given a proper exposure to the public.Western movies only have good and bad guys; a stereotypical view, smashed to pieces by Alex's and undeniably Alan Rickman's presentation of the conflict between a mysterious yet dark past and the formation of a genuine and meaningful bond Alex makes with Linda. If it's a film about an emotional journey with both laugh out loud comedy and teary eyed magic you're looking for, I fully recommend Snowcake

• Well Acted Drama posted on 16 Sep 2008

  Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman) is an ex murder convict who just got released and is now heading for Winnipeg by car. On the way he meets Vivienne (Emily Hampshire). They get involved in a tragic accident in which Vivienne dies, and Alex is unharmed.Alex is broken and goes looking for Viviennes mom Linda (Sigourney Weaver) who turns out to be autistic. This results in a sometimes funny and often touching drama. Although the film loses a bit of strength in the last part, the story is solid and the film stands out due to its great acting (especially by Rickman).8/10 (78/100)

• thoughtful and thought-provoking posted on 16 Sep 2008

  "Snow Cake" starts off with a jolt of bitterly cruel irony, as a young hitchhiker, desperate to get home to her mother's, scans an Ontario diner to see which of its numerous patrons would be the "safest" person off of whom to bum a ride. She quickly alights on Alex Hughes, a reserved, colorless, middle-aged Brit who's come to Canada on some undisclosed business and who seems to be covering up some deep dark secret from the rest of the world. Alex reluctantly agrees to take Vivienne with him, but before they can reach their destination, Vivienne is killed when the car they are riding in is sideswiped by a speeding semi. Wracked with guilt, Alex decides to visit Vivienne's mother, Linda, and apologize for his part in the girl's death. When he gets to the woman's home, he is shocked to discover that Linda is suffering from a case of autism so severe that she essentially lives in a world of her own, emotionally cut off from the people around her.Lyrical and low-keyed, "Snow Cake" paints an intriguing portrait of a woman trapped inside a dysfunctional mind and of a man coping with the crushing burden of survivor's guilt. Yet, that is not the only problem Alex faces, for, despite the fact that he is in full control of his mental faculties, Alex is not all that far removed from Linda in his inability to make sense out of the world and to establish emotional connections with the people in his life. Alex carries his sadness around with him like a dark cloud, alerting all who meet him to the extreme unhappiness of his life. Somehow, Alex and Linda establish a bizarre symbiotic relationship that few others in the movie can even begin to understand.Angela Bell's debut screenplay boasts a fine blend of sadness, humor and warmth, and Marc Evans' artful, sensitive direction creates a richly melancholic tone throughout. Going far beyond the mannerisms of a mentally-challenged individual, Sigourney Weaver is poignant and touching as the woman cut off from the outside world, while the always wonderful Alan Rickman, with his hangdog expression and exasperated tone, conveys all the suppressed longing and world-weary resignation essential to his character. In addition, Carrie-Anne Moss makes her mark as a well-meaning neighbor who offers Alan more than the traditional tea and sympathy in his time there.

• Snow Cake sparkles! posted on 12 Sep 2008

  Sigourney Weaver stars as Linda, an autistic mother, in this British/Canadian co-production. Early in the film, her daughter Vivienne (Emily Hampshire) is killed in a car accident enroute to her hometown of Wawa, Ontario. Ex-con Alex (Alan Rickman) survives the crash and reluctantly visits Wawa only to find himself become an intimate part of this quirky community. The film takes its name from the crystals of snow which dazzle and amuse Linda in her imaginative world. Not since Rain Man has autism been so lovingly portrayed in a feature film! The music is an original score by Broken Social Scene! Snow Cake was selected to open the Berlin Film Festival! Why this film ended up as a British co-production is a mystery, and this may say a lot about the (lack of) funding for Canadian feature films!

• thoughtful and visually stunning film, but i have some quibbles... posted on 25 Aug 2008

  if sigourney weaver were not a beautiful A-list movie actor, i am not sure we'd tolerate her stab at being autistic. nor would alex, the alan rickman character. would he have stayed with her as long as he does? despite the guilt that i am not sure i totally experience from him - because she is a cut off figure, he only has minimal reaction to play off - i didn't feel he was "arty" i just was not convinced he'd killed anyone but even more than that, i was not convinced he'd been in prison. that's a hassle for me - we sense his anger at the truck driver who lingers around, and he has to run away or he replays the past (we learn later). but i never felt the truck driver was in danger - the film constantly undermines its own dramatic tension. maybe that's okay sometimes too, i mean it's okay that a film be a bit quiet - not to have heightened emotion and high action on offer in cinemas all the time is maybe not a bad thing: a bit of variety, i suppose. but other secondary figures are not satisfying - they are either clichéd, or characters with only one arrow to their bows - the inexplicable woman who insists on trying to comfort linda - she is rebuffed, cringes about it and tries again, the nosey husband-hunting superficial neighbour with inappropriate conventional responses to an unconventional woman, who keeps looking at alex and continues to try to react meaningfully to linda - the townies are too stereotyped. the parents are excellent, really good. the hovering policeman is not at all convincing. and, for me there is a problem with the carrie-moss character: her beauty is so evidently also the result of plastic surgery - i was entertained watching them kiss in bed - but there are only hints of earthy humour from her and so she does not seem real. or especially deeply sexy. and that's too bad. that trick of whispering behind a man's ear (which she did in Matrix to Keanu Reeves when she first meets him) is a little too contrived - all the characters are also saying lines that are not extremely sophisticated - the dialogue does not always work - beautiful, sometimes, but without the music the director has added behind some speeches, we would not be alerted (due to the declamatory timing? - the actor's fault or the director's? or the writer's fault?)maybe the lines could just not bear all the significance they were meant to bear so we needed help to know that they were IMPORTANT - like when linda, the autistic woman, starts on a mini-story which will lead her to make an example of the word "dazlicious" (sp?) - that's nice written on a piece of paper, but it takes a while for this little speech to catch on in weaver's rhythms of speech too and to be a "telling" moment. luckily we have the music but that overcompensation also means to me that the director was sensing the lightweight-edness of the dialogue. the inevitability of an involvement with the woman next door (although the actor and director contrive nicely to leave us a bit in the dark about maggie's way of making a living...) carrie-moss, being a sexual partner for this anomalous man is just too cheesy - and she does not especially react to the announcement he's killed someone when the policeman who loves her hopelessly tells her so.so i have a mixed reaction overall - except that, like most of the other commentators, i love rickman's acting - the filming itself, the landscape and the shots are stunning. made me feel homesick for north America. the good acting, if sometimes not great, is labouring with a first-time writer's (hasty?) effort.

• A film that makes you look at things in a brand new way - in a word, dazlious! posted on 12 Jul 2008

  Snow Flake is a tale of insulated lives thrown into contact, of insights that that are almost (but not quite) incommunicable, of the power of unusual friendships, of people defying what is expected of them and sometimes of what they would expect of themselves, and of finding a strength in themselves and others as a result. And if that sounds clichéd, you have to go and see it to believe it.Sigourney Weaver is from a different world, one not unlike our own. She's not battling Aliens or living in a sectarian time-shift Village, but the world into which she brings us is as weird, and dazzling enough for my jaw to drop after watching her for just a few minutes. Her presence jumps off the screen with such vividness that, even though I had read the storyline, I knew it was going to surpass my expectations. Her character is fascinated by things that sparkle, can juggle numbers with unnerving rapidity, inhabits a universe of extreme precision that brooks no infraction, and no uncleanliness: and she's only barely tolerant of your world. This is the world of Linda Freeman, high-functioning autistic.There are two sides to Linda: the world she lives in is undoubtedly extraordinary - her version of Scrabble leaves Alan Rickman's character (Alex Hughes) looking severely unevolved - but it is balanced by her lack of empathy for 'normal' people. What makes Weaver's performance so remarkable is that she conveys the logical certitude of Linda's position with such force that we, like Alex, start feeling a bit dumb. Why do we go through such irrelevant tea-and-ham-sandwiches rituals after a death? Why can't we feel the joy we felt as children when we discovered snow in our hands, or the thrill of a trampoline as our body is launched into space? Why do we struggle to remember simple facts? The drawbacks of Linda's world (apart from most people not being able to reach it) is that she cannot cope with the imperfections that the rest of us would shrug off. If the dog leaves a stain on her carpet she will have simply have to 'move house', and the only kind of job she can get is one where her obsessive need for order can find a simplistic outlet (she stacks shelves in a supermarket, with mathematical precision and attention). If Rain Man was the gold-medallist of autism, Linda Freeman is simply a non-glamorised regular sportswoman, and in that she conveys a more real person than any Hollywood-ised super-character.Alex (Alan Rickman) opens the film, flicking poignantly at a small photo as he sits out a long flight. We have no clue as to who the person in the picture is, or why he seems to be encased in his own intense thoughts. Later, we see him in a transport café, approached by a bubbly young girl who is determined to break down his wall of silence. She wants to write a book and make loads of money - by finding the right areas of pain and suffering to focus on. Her apparent insensitivity is quickly tempered when she admits she admits she needs a lift but has picked the loneliest looking person because she really thinks he "needs to talk". Alex reluctantly gives her a lift. She is soon singing the 70's rock song All Right Now at the top of her voice, but things are far from all right. One car crash and an added truckload of emotional baggage later, Alex is arriving on Linda's doorstep and destined to be her guest for more than a few hours. Our storyline is further complicated by the seductively attractive Maggie (Carrie-Ann Moss) who has her eye on Alex. He first assumes she is a prostitute (she reminded me of the classy call-girl Inara, from Serenity) but accepts a 'neighbourly' invitation for dinner.Rickman is at his best. The wry tongue-in-cheek humour seen in many of his films gives way to a sardonic realism that is even funnier because it is more true to real life. A very down to earth script ensures the laughs are grounded (Love Actually but without the unbelievability), even if in most cases Rickman is principally a foil for other characters: such as when Linda likens eating snow to an orgasm or Maggie breaks off dinner because she hates having sex on a full stomach.We soon realise that Linda's childlike behaviour thinly disguises a penetrating intelligence, but her intelligence doesn't enable her to solve everyday problems such as putting the rubbish out. She has emotional insight, even consideration, but her world is as isolated from ours as ours is from hers, even with her ability to reel off facts and figures. One is reminded of a recent study that suggested that emotional intelligence may serve people better in the workplace than a Mensa certificate.Rickman's character struggles with Canadian distances in a typically British manner. "It didn't look far on the map," he exclaims hopelessly. He is out of his depth geographically and emotionally but, obsessed with his own inadequacies, is open to seeing things differently. The landscape whiteness, at first cold and unwelcoming, starts to seem beautiful. Maggie allows Alex to open emotionally whereas Linda, through the intellectual effort he makes to reach her, enables him to rationalise the process and come to terms with his feelings. Linda is a doorway to seeing things differently - "I'm half outside, half inside," she says as she hovers on the porch and we puzzle whether she is being dippy or intentionally defusing a difficult situation. The mathematical way she describes needing a hug reassures us that she is human, but by then we have learnt a whole new attitude of respect. Snow Cake is a very personal film, not a blockbuster, but a few more films like this could enrich the way we see ourselves.

• That was unusual posted on 27 May 2008

  I've never been a sucker for these psychological development plots, but this one got me. Alan Rickman is brilliant as always. There is more to the character than you know. You get attached to the characters, just before they rip your heart out by continuing on their respective life paths. Clyde the police-man was a bit of an unnecessary role in the story, but he is surpassed by the main characters anyway. Sigourney Weaver also hits home as the autistic independent mother. Does it really matter if she is portraying autism accurately? I'd prefer the Medieval viewpoint on this. Accuracy and realism is inferior to the goal of conveying the message. And the film certainly did that.