Movies
Director: Marc Evans
Screenwriter: Angela Pell
Starring: Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Hampshire
Running time: 112 mins
Certificate: 15
Alan Rickman plays Alex, a taciturn British ex-con travelling cross-country to visit his former wife. Stopping off at a cafe, he reluctantly picks up a hitchhiker, live-wire teenager Vivienne, who is subsequently killed when a truck drives into his car. A sense of obligation leads him apologetically to the door of Linda, the dead girl's mother, in the Ontario winter.
Linda seems outwardly more affected by the luminescent gifts which Vivienne had sent rather than her loss, which, Alex soon discovers, is because she's a high-functioning autistic woman. His guilt far from assuaged (and with no real reason to hurry his exit), he agrees to stay with Linda for a few days during which time he has an affair with her free-spirited neighbour Maggie (Moss ) and finds some unexpected direction to his life again.
Snow Cake charts the redemption of Alex, a man with a history, through his friendships and relationships with people removed from regular society, be it in terms of their condition, location or outlooks on life. His time with Linda and Maggie, both unconventional in their ways, seems to be an antidote to 'normal conventions'. Linda realises the extent of her loss but regards the situation without outward emotion and the expected blame.
Considering the film's subject matter, it's little surprise that Snow Cake is a touching affair, but it is surprising how funny it manages to be at the same time. Evans does well to avoid making the audience laugh at Linda's autism. Whilst much of the humour comes about because of her condition, it is Alex's reactions to and interactions with her which are funny - it's a fine line but the filmmakers tread it well. The respectful and well-informed portrayal is helped in no small measure by the fact that first-time screenwriter Pell's son is autistic and has a love for eating snow.
Ever-versatile, Sigourney Weaver's excellent performance is award-worthy, bringing out the facets of innocence, strength and vulnerability in her complex character - Rickman's familiar sardonic performance is the perfect balance.
A heartfelt film which mixes its drama and levity perfectly, Snow Cake tugs on the heartstrings but never falls on the wrong side of sentimentality.
Screenwriter: Angela Pell
Starring: Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Hampshire
Running time: 112 mins
Certificate: 15
Alan Rickman plays Alex, a taciturn British ex-con travelling cross-country to visit his former wife. Stopping off at a cafe, he reluctantly picks up a hitchhiker, live-wire teenager Vivienne, who is subsequently killed when a truck drives into his car. A sense of obligation leads him apologetically to the door of Linda, the dead girl's mother, in the Ontario winter.
Linda seems outwardly more affected by the luminescent gifts which Vivienne had sent rather than her loss, which, Alex soon discovers, is because she's a high-functioning autistic woman. His guilt far from assuaged (and with no real reason to hurry his exit), he agrees to stay with Linda for a few days during which time he has an affair with her free-spirited neighbour Maggie (Moss ) and finds some unexpected direction to his life again.
Snow Cake charts the redemption of Alex, a man with a history, through his friendships and relationships with people removed from regular society, be it in terms of their condition, location or outlooks on life. His time with Linda and Maggie, both unconventional in their ways, seems to be an antidote to 'normal conventions'. Linda realises the extent of her loss but regards the situation without outward emotion and the expected blame.
Considering the film's subject matter, it's little surprise that Snow Cake is a touching affair, but it is surprising how funny it manages to be at the same time. Evans does well to avoid making the audience laugh at Linda's autism. Whilst much of the humour comes about because of her condition, it is Alex's reactions to and interactions with her which are funny - it's a fine line but the filmmakers tread it well. The respectful and well-informed portrayal is helped in no small measure by the fact that first-time screenwriter Pell's son is autistic and has a love for eating snow.
Ever-versatile, Sigourney Weaver's excellent performance is award-worthy, bringing out the facets of innocence, strength and vulnerability in her complex character - Rickman's familiar sardonic performance is the perfect balance.
A heartfelt film which mixes its drama and levity perfectly, Snow Cake tugs on the heartstrings but never falls on the wrong side of sentimentality.
More: Movies, Edinburgh Film Festival
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