Snow Falling On Cedars - Collector's Edition

When Scott Hicks' film adaptation of David Guterson's novel "Snow Falling on Cedars" released in 1999, the film was met with mixed-to-tepid response from critics. Although writers like Jay Carr and Roger Ebert spoke very highly of the film, it seems to have been somewhat lost to time. With no original 35mm negative available, and only previously-released DVD and Betamax options to restore from, it should be considered a bit of a feat that the new 4K restoration of the film - supervised by cinematographer Robert Richardson - looks as stunning as it does. While "Snow Falling on Cedars" isn't a classic by any means, it's still an engaging drama with a bold, poetic visual and narrative rhythm that few films are able to shoulder. Some praise should rightfully be lauded on Shout! Factory for this new Blu-ray collector's edition, which is chock full of special features.

The murder of a fisherman in the fictional community of San Piedro Island off the coast of Washington in 1954, and the subsequent trail of the crime's investigation, lay bare the racial injustices done to Japanese people during World War II. Kabuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune) is accused of killing a white fisherman, which tips the town into a furor the likes of which hadn't been seen since the war. Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke), a WWII vet that lost his arm during the war and harbors a deep love for Kabuo's wife, must overcome his own bitterness to help exonerate an innocent man during the trial. Most of the story takes place in the court room, with many flashbacks utilized to properly convey the prejudices that make the case even more difficult to settle.

"Snow Falling on Cedars" was nominated for Best Cinematography at the Oscars that year, and rightfully so. Richardson's work behind the camera is one of the main reasons why the film's recollection of fraught character memories works. It's stunning to see so much color washed out of every shot, with dark blacks and a soft blue tint being put over everything. The approach is clear; nothing we see in the film is as simple as the actions of these characters, as they all have an emotional burden they carry that threatens to hurt others. In Ishmael's case, his resent of the Japanese during the war and his love for Hatsue (Y�ki Kud�) present a nationwide culture of racism as something that wounds the soul and infects everyone it touches.

There's a great special feature titled "A Fresh Snow," where Richardson takes the viewer through the truly incredible work they were able to achieve in restoring the film. Because they had to work from a DVD that was never approved by Scott Hicks or Richardson, a huge amount of color correction had to occur. It's amazing to see how new digital tools can make films like this seem good as new, even without removing the filmic qualities from being shot on 35mm. Other special features include:

� "Accident Rules" – A look back at the film Including brand-new Interviews with director/co-writer Scott Hicks, novelist David Guterson, director of photography Robert Richardson, and composer James Newton Howard
� Audio Commentary with Scott Hicks
� Spotlight On Location
� Deleted Scenes
� Theatrical Trailer

"Snow Falling on Cedars"
Blu-ray
$23.99
https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/snow-falling-on-cedars-collector-s-edition?product_id=7084