Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780793941803
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
ISBN: 0793941806
Label: 20th Century Fox
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageAnalog
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 13, 2001
Running Time: 121 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: February 28, 1997

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Based on a much-praised 1992 bestseller by Peter Hoeg, Smilla's Sense of Snow is a film of moody power and boundless mystery in its first half, but it becomes an overblown, conspiracy-laden schlock thriller in its second. Julia Ormond stars as the half-Inuit, Greenland native of Hoeg's book, a loner who is supported by an emotionally ambivalent father (Robert Loggia) in Copenhagen. Apparently perceived as a troublemaker who sees secret plots everywhere, Smilla finds herself largely alone in an effort to discover what really happened to a six-year-old Inuit boy who fell (or jumped) off the roof of her apartment building. Somewhat aided by an ambiguous neighbor (Gabriel Byrne), Smilla investigates a connection between the child's death and the misdeeds of a mining company, a story hook that conveniently ratchets up the action but quickly dissipates the more compelling, introspective intrigue of the film's beginning. Ormond is fascinating, somehow more beautiful than usual through her emphasis of her character's destabilizing conflicts (isolation and a possibly unhinged intelligence). But she isn't done any favors by an unreliable script or by the usually superb Danish director Bille August's chronic problems working in English-language films (including his disastrous The House of the Spirits). The DVD edition of this film includes an original theatrical trailer and a short feature on the making of the production. --Tom Keogh

Description:
Based on the best-selling novel this gripping, suspenseful thriller about a headstrong woman who uses her uncanny knowledge of ice and snow to unravel a taut web of lies and intrigue. When her six-year old neighbor falls from a snow covered roof, Smilla suspects the boys death was no accident. Together with a mysterious lover, who holds secrets of his own, she defies local authorities and begins a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in an effort to uncover the truth.




Rating: - Certainly offbeat, but quite flat
Thriller about some nonsense involving a meteor and Greenland Eskimos. The female lead has one speed: flat. Absolutely no heat between her and her alleged costar boyfriend. The little boy has a good part, but barely speaks. The plot is silliness. I was tired of Julia Ormond's non-stop anger about 20 minutes into this two hour film. Why didnt she just move back to Greenland if she was so angry about being taken from it? Good riddance! Watch if you have nothing else to do.

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Rating: - Smilla's Sense of Snow
I came across this movie on late night television by accident and when I saw who was in it I set my VCR to record. I was pleased I did. I now have the DVD. It was the second movie I saw Gabriel Byrne in and I am now a confirmed supporter. Julia Ormond is a treasure and after seeing her with Harrison Ford in Sabrina she can do no wrong. The small boy in this movie should have received a carton of oscars for his effort. Greenland scenery is superb

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Rating: - The Smilla Cliff Notes
Let me state immediately that while I liked this film, it does not remotely begin to convey the multi-layered density of Peter Hoeg's long, complex novel. This film should be more aptly titled, "Bille August's Cliff Notes of Peter Hoeg's Novel, Smilla's Sense of Snow". Because that, basically, is what this movie is: a sketch of major events from the book, and not even all of them.

Of course, it must be said that bringing all the plots, subplots, twists, turns, and subtleties of Hoeg's ... Read More

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Rating: - Great mystery!
I had read this book- one of the best I had ever read, particularly about Denmark and Greenland - and it was so well written, I did not want it to end. So, of course, I wanted to see the movie. It was wonderfully done. It handled a complex mystery very well and was a great evening's entertainment. All actors were great and really bought the book to life!

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Rating: - Read the book first...
This is a great, literal adaptation of Peter Hoeg's novel of the same name. I recommend reading the book first because it is absolutely wonderful. The film follows the novel almost to the letter and Julia Ormond just captures Smilla perfectly. I liked Gabriel Byrne in the supporting role, but his eccentricities seem a little toned down for the movie. Overall, I think the movie is great! Enjoy.

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