Smilla’s Sense of Snow *** (1997, Julia Ormond, Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Wilkinson, Jim Broadbent, Robert Loggia, Bob Peck, Ona Fletcher, Agga Olsen ) – Classic Movie Review 9014

Director Bille August’s 1997 mystery crime drama Smilla’s Sense of Snow [Fröken Smillas Känsla för Snö] [Smilla’s Feeling for Snow] is based on the novel by Peter Høeg, and stars a remarkable cast headed by Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Wilkinson, Jim Broadbent, Robert Loggia and Bob Peck.

In Copenhagen, Inuit American scientist Smilla Jaspersen (Ormond) investigates a six-year-old Inuit boy’s covered-up death, falling off a roof though was afraid of heights, in this gorgeous-looking art-film puzzle that proceeds beautifully in its stately fashion till a bizarrely overheated ending.

Director August’s distinguished movie is posh, well done, very handsome, and with fine acting, especially from the usually unlucky Ormond and from Byrne as The Mechanic, Harris as Dr Andreas Tork, Jim Broadbent as Dr Lagermann, Robert Loggia as Moritz Jaspersen, Vanessa Redgrave as Elsa Lübing and Bob Peck as Ravn.

Also in the cast are Clipper Miano, Ona Fletcher, Agga Olsen, Patrick Field, Charlotte Bradley, Charles Lewsen, Emma Croft, Ann Queensberry, Claire Skinner, David Hayman, Peter Capaldi and Mario Adorf.

Bille August felt the film did not turn out as well as he had hoped, thinking adapting the novel into film had serious problems at the screenplay stage.

Smilla’s Sense of Snow is directed by Bille August, runs 121 minutes, is made by Bavaria Film, Constantin Film, Det Danske Filminstitut, Greenland and Nordisk, is released by Fox Searchlight, is written by Ann Biderman, based on the novel by Peter Høeg, is shot by Jörgen Persson, is produced by Bernd Eichinger, is scored by Harry Gregson-Williams and is designed by Anna Asp.

RIP Bob Peck, who died in London of cancer on 4 April 1999, aged 53, after fighting the disease for several years. He is survived by his wife, Jill Baker, who played Faith in Hope and Glory.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9014

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