Smilla's Sense of Snow

I first saw "Smilla's Sense of Snow" back in the fall of 1997 when I was in college. I had read about this movie and since it starred Julia Ormond, one of my all - time favorite actresses, I had to see it. I haven't read the book by Peter Hoeg, on which the movie is based, but the movie is highly entertaining. Ormond is superb as Smilla Jasperson, an unemployed woman who has a fascination with snow and a sixth sense for it, if you will. When she finds out a young neighbor boy fell to his death, Smilla takes matters into her own hands to try to solve what happened. The movie shows flashbacks of Smilla and Isaiah (pronounced ee sai ah), the young boy, interacting and developing a friendship, which also drops clues as to circumstances surrounding Isaiah's death. Despite being told to stay off the case, Smilla continues to find out what happened and who killed Isaiah. One scene that springs to mind that gives us a 'sense' of Smilla's character is in the beginning when she is told that Isaiah died while playing on the roof. When Smilla goes up on the roof to investigate for herself, she sees the police up there taking pictures of footprints in the snow. Smilla comments that "the tracks run in a straight line towards the edge. No child in the world would play like that," which is why she suspects fowl play and murder. This is just one of many intuitive ideas Smilla has about snow. We see her studying snowflakes at the beginning of the movie, noting their shape. Other than this, whenever Smilla is told by the police/forensics to stay off the case and that she has no evidence, Smilla claims, "I knew him, and that's my evidence." Pretty flimsy evidence, but it shows she is determined to get to the bottom of it all by herself, whether she gets help or not. Gabriel Byrne is her next door neighbor who found Isaiah dead. The two form a friendship and become lovers while investigating Isaiah's death. The movie also stars Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Harris, Jim Broadbent, Robert Loggia, and Tom Wilkinson. There are some great action scenes and some tense investigative scenes with Ormond, who doesn't smile much in this movie (except in flashbacks), but her character is supposed to be cold, literally and figuratively. Byrne is excellent as the neighbor who helps Smilla in her investigation. I bought my DVD used as I couldn't find a new one that wasn't outrageously expensive, but the quality of the picture is excellent and the sound is very clear and crisp as well. The DVD includes a short featurette and a theatrical trailer. The movie is rated R for language, violence, and a sex scene, but other than that, it is very interesting and keeps you wanting to see whodunnit. If you like thrillers and are a fan of Julia Ormond, then I highly recommend "Smilla's Sense of Snow," one of Ormond's best movies.

One of Billy Wilder's best (director) with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave, both who have worked with Ormond in the past, so a close working relationship. Julia never looked better on film (being a JO fan I have my opinion!); she displays the energy and tenacity that only someone in their prime as a movie actress has. Gabriel Burn play the right co-star for her, low-key and reels her in. The entire movie stays afloat on Julia's conviction for her love for this little boy, which she makes totally believable to her credit. Only her smile in Legends of the Fall was more blinding!

I can't count how many times I've seen this over the years. When it came out, it was WAY ahead of its' time in story idea, narrative, cinematic, sci-fi. They didn't know how to sell it, so it went unnoticed for the most part.Terrific cast. Julie Ormond, a seriously underrated actor, at her best.

....but the movie is OK too even if the role of theMechanic is made way less ambiguous in the film. i.e.made into a 100% good guy. The book works betterbecause there, the only 100% good guy and straight arrowis Smilla herself.There is more detail in the book and a better senseof the clash of cultures between Denmark and Greenland.Ms Ormond gives a very creditable performance of a mostcomplex character. Smilla Jaspersen is one of the greatfemale characters of 20th century fiction. A loner, a woman,a scientist and an outsider who is at the same time, sexy,ballsy and as smart as hell. Heck I feel threatened justthinking about her.The scene where the cops threaten her with confinment ischilling. The scenes with the little boy are truly moving.But I wonder if a less European ( that is an American ) filmwould have shown her in the same bed with him? We do trulylive in sad times that I have to think so.Ms Ormond is ably supported by a slew of great European actors,including Jim Broadbent, Vanessa Redgrave and the late Bob Peckas Inspector Rahm. Though I do admit that in the book, Rahm isa far more complex and ultimately better character than thesimple policeman that he is in the movie.Overall this is a good European movie, with a strong strongstrong central character very well played by Julia Ormond.

Excellent, original, unpredictable, well acted, written, and directed film. Definitely needs a Blu ray for better picture quality of some excellent cinematography. Underrated gem. Deserves more attention and a sequel.

Beautiful, terrifically filmed, great actors, great cultures, deep and rich story, fun mystery JUST CLASSIC. Main character's a bit bitchy but you start to understand it fast. One of the first AND GREATEST Euronoir movies. Other good ones are Wallander, Jack Irish, Jack Taylor.

Julia Ormond is one of my favorite actresses and I think her cool, classy indifference in this film really works. She is an expert in ice and snow which is really kind of amazing. The story is unique and out of the ordinary. If you enjoy secret government plots and don't mind a deep, complicated group of characters, you will like this one. I know some feel the ending was over the top but I disagree. The lead character, Smilla, is motherless, sad, lost, fierce, loyal and in desperate need of something or someone to get her interested in life again. To me this made it seem very real that she would pursue this cover-up to the bitter end as she did. I really liked this one.

Julia Ormond is the best thing about this movie. As an actress she handled the role with guts and hutspa. Very interesting characters. Gabriel Byrne was fantastic, as always and the little boy, I don't know his name, but he too did a good job. My problem with the film is I think the actual plot/story-line or the way it was handled could've been better. The movie begins to drag on a bit and that's unfortunate. In spite of that I like it because it showcases a very talented cast. Worth watching for that alone.

First off a few words about the DVD I purchased (see attached photo). It's a German import but the feature film can be played in English without any foreign subtitles. Cover notes and DVD menus are in German only. Language and subtitle options are exactly as per product description (dubbed German and original English audio options, optional German subtitles). English subtitles are not available. Language selection is possible either in the "Einstellungen" menu or via remote after starting playback. Picture and sound quality are very nice, the film is presented in the original widescreen format. Feature run time 116 mins. The DVD also contains numerous and lengthy extra features: Making of (German audio only), Featurette (German audio), Interviews (director and actors in English with optional German subtitles, producer German only), Behind the Scenes, Greenland Featurette (English with optional German subtitles).As to the film itself, I came to see it on the strength of its stellar cast including Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Jim Broadbent, Vanessa Redgrave, Peter Capaldi, Mario Adorf. It is very much a female led film and Julia Ormond is solid as Smilla. She makes for a likable and gutsy heroine. Richard Harris is well cast as the villain of the piece; his role is rather small, but he pops up ever and again throughout the film. But the real star of the film was, for me, Gabriel Byrne. He plays a man of few words, but nonetheless (or maybe exactly because of this?) his performance is mesmerizing. Everybody else has hardly more than a couple cameos at one stage or another. Still nice to see all these greats, even in small parts.Also quite sensational are the filming locations: Copenhagen in winter and the wide snow covered expanses of Greenland. The latter sadly only very late in the film. Still, it's amazing to see the real place in a film.The film is based on a novel, it's a thriller with Ormond's character trying to find out what is behind the death of the little Inuit boy from her building who ran straight off the roof and fell five floors to the pavement. Smilla senses there is a cover up and she wants to find out more. The authorities try to stop her, her awkward downstairs neighbour (Gabriel Byrne) wants to help, but she is unsure if she can trust him. Over time a tentative romance develops between them. The relationship between Smilla and her neighbour is probably the most interesting part of the film. The mystery story with all threads leading back to Greenland somehow lacked urgency. Yes, there were a few moments of high tension, but ultimately I couldn't get invested in the mystery. It just didn't feel all that important what secret was hidden in the eternal ice of far away Greenland.Overall not a bad little film. It'll keep you nicely entertained on a slow night in. The visuals and acting performances of the entire cast are wonderful, watch it for that and don't expect too much of the story. If your expectations aren't too high, you'll likely find something to like here.

I liked the quality of the prose, the many-dimensional characters, and the relevance to the global and environmental consequences of our actions today. It was beautifully written and I got totally absorbed in the main character. This book is so much more than just an action thriller - although it is undoubtedly that! I loved it so much that I got the DVD (thanks to earlier reviews on this site) - German production but it says the language is English. I have not watched it yet. It has Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris and Mario Adorf in.

The version I bought from Momox had the title "Miss Smilla's Sense of Snow".Naturally, then, I assumed that it would have dialogue in English. Instead, it was in German, with no language options. Very disappointed, as I don't understand German, and the voices don't fit the actors in tone, as well as being unintelligible to me.As I was saving it to watch in winter, it was too late to return it by the time I realised.

Never thought to check an Amazon English site would sell a German product with no access to spoken or subtitled English. Once I realized it was purely German I threw it in the bin. What a waste of money. A lesson learned for the future.

No English original soundtrack, no subtitles, wrong resolution, looks like crap. Basically a very poor hack of the original that I regret buying,If only the original was available so we didn't have to was $ determining it was crap