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Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 16

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 4,863

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Movie Info

Julia Ormond stars as Copenhagen resident Smilla Jasperson, a reclusive, half-Inuit scientist who befriends a neglected Inuit boy who lives in her building. Arriving home from work one day, Smilla is mortified to learn that the boy has died in a fall from the building's roof. Suspicious because she knows that her young friend was afraid of heights, Smilla probes into the "accident." Her only ally is an enigmatic man known as the Mechanic (Gabriel Byrne), who also lives in the building and seems

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Bille August

Written By: Ann Biderman

In Theaters: Feb 28, 1997 Wide

On DVD: Mar 13, 2001

Cast

Julia Ormond
Smilla Jasperson
Gabriel Byrne
Mechanic
Richard Harris
Tork
Vanessa Redgrave
Elsa Lubing
Robert Loggia
Moritz Jasperson
Jim Broadbent
Lagermann
Mario Adorf
Lukas
Peter Capaldi
Lander
Bob Peck
Ravn
Tom Wilkinson
Dr. Loyen
J�rgen Vogel
Jakkelsen
Emma Croft
Benja
Clipper Miano
Isaiah
Agga Olsen
Juliane
Charles Lewsen
Charlotte Bradley
Matthew Marsh
Ono Fleischer
Patrick Field

Critic Reviews for Smilla's Sense of Snow

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (16) | DVD (4)

Bad title, good movie.

February 7, 2007 Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

An atmospheric and enjoyably preposterous mystery.

November 10, 2005 Comment

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Fascinating setting and strong performances make up for the far-fetched plotting.

September 2, 2005 Comment

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

A truly outlandish twist that would be more at home in a no-brainer Hollywood action film than in what purports to be an intelligent adult thriller.

January 13, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Odd, atmospheric thriller that completely falls apart in the finale

June 16, 2003 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

The idiotic ending seems to belong to another movie.

January 3, 2003 Comment

Nell Minow

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

An underrated and effective thriller, buoyed by a fine performance from Julia Ormond.

December 30, 2002 Comment

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

Reveals zeal to be a virtue when it is put into practice as service of others.

August 23, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Smilla's Sense of Snow

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Smilla's Sense of Snow has an eerie yet hypnotic style to it that really caught me by surprise. This is a mysterious film, based on a bestseller that I confess, I?ve not read, so can't comment on as an adaptation but I can recommend this to anyone who likes their films to be both original, compelling and highly unpredictable!

September 16, 2009

Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

The Best Movie I have seen for the Month of March, ranks as an all time high. Smilla is a star. The suspense will keep you on the edge of your chair. I can't believe that this film didn't get more awards, its a sleeper. Other then the Berlin International Film Festival I don't think it showed up anywhere else. The

March 11, 2009