Based on David Guterson's novel of the same name Snow Falling on Cedars is set in 1951 on a fictional island called San Piedro in Washington State. In this small town, the Anglo and Japanese-American populations had long lived in relative harmony until Pearl Harbour dragged half the town's population into internment camps.
An American-born man of Japanese descent is on trial for murder. Kazuo was a veteran of the war and served in the US military, but despite his ranking and valour, he is stigmatised as a "Jap" and faces long odds in the racially polarised town.
Ishmael Chambers (Hawke), the local reporter may have evidence crucial to Kazuo's innocence. Ishmael has past links to Kazuo's wife Hatsue Miyamoto (Youki Koudo) and must decide whether or not to intervene.
The court scenes are truly excellent. Max Von Sydow plays Nels Gudmundson, the defense lawyer. Like Dustin Hoffman in Sleepers, he is shaky and visually unintimidating. When his character goes after witnesses, it is truly classic courtroom drama. Equally magnificent is James Cromwell as the presiding judge, determined to have a fair trial. Not since Jack Nicholson's riveting performance in A Few Good Men has a movie been so effective at creating malice feelings towards certain witnesses, here because of their prejudiced views.
Snow Falling On Cedars is a genuinely attractive film, the title-descriptive winter scenery could easily comprise a calendar. It is most unfortunate that courtroom drama, excellent acting and visual ecstasy like this must be ruined by murky plot lines and poor adaptation.