Cast: Ethan Hawke, Rick Yune, Youki Kudoh,
Max von Sydow, Sam Shepherd, Celia Weston...
Adaptation of David Guterson's best-selling novel, 'Cedars' tells the story of the trial of Kazuo Miyamoto, a Japanese-American fisherman accused of the murder of fellow fisherman Carl Heine, off the quiet island of San Piedro during the 1950s.
"Max von Sydow, who plays the shrewd, humane defense lawyer, is as likely as anyone in the excellent cast... to get an Oscar"
Max certainly deserved at least an Oscar nod for his incredibly powerful performance in this beautiful film. It is without doubt one of my favourite von Sydow films because of the immense pathos he gives his character. Due to the frequent use of flashbacks in the film all the courtroom cast seem a little marginalised, but if you look closely Max actually appears in the flashbacks as well.
Director Scott Hicks manages to slip in a number of Bergman references that should be apparent to the eagle-eyed. He has Nels play chess with his client
Throughout the film, Max coveys a wonderful sene of Nels' bumbling, slightly cantankerous personality while showing both how compassionate and sharp-witted the old man still is. Nowhere is this more evident than in his brilliant summation speech. Perhaps one of the most moving monalogues that I have ever seen, I readily admit to having been on the verge of tears both times I saw it a cinema. Hicks later explained that he simply couldn't take the camera off Max's "amazing" face and let the shot run to some 6 minutes. Every one is priceless and was for me a final, sure confirmation that Max von Sydow is the finest screen actor of his generation. Of any of his more modern films I urge people to see this one the most.
Judge: "Nels, act your age!"
Nels: "If I did that I'd be dead"
(from his summation speech)
Why? We sent him. And his wife. And
thousands of Americans to concentration
camps. They lost homes, belongings,
everything. Can we now be unforgiving of
his mistrust?
I am an old man. I do not walk so well
anymore, and one of my eyes is close to
useless. My life is drawing to a close.
Why do I say this? I say this because it
means I ponder matters in the light of
death in a way that you do not. I feel
like a traveller descended from Mars,
astonished at what passes here. What I
see is the same human frailty passed from
generation to generation. We hate one
another. We are the victims of
irrational fears.
You may think this is a small trial. In
a small place. Well, it isn't. Every
once in awhile. Somewhere in the world.
Humanity goes on trial. And integrity.
And decency. Every once in awhile,
common folks get called on to give the
report card for the human race.
In the name of humanity. Do your duty as
jurors. Return this man to his wife and
children. Set him free. As you must.
------
It takes a rare thing. A turning point.
To free yourself from any obsession. Be
it prejudice. Or hate. Or even love.
------
Accident rules every corner of the
universe. Except the chambers of the
human heart.
(the last line in David Guterson's novel)
Director Scott Hicks on casting and working with Max,
taken from 'Snow Falling on Cedars, A Screenplay by Ron Bass and Scott Hicks'
I saw 'Snow Falling on Cedars' - after a considerable wait, due to a prolonged delay in its UK release - twice at the cinema. I also rented the standard VHS edition when it was released. Undoubtedly the best way to watch the film, though, is to buy or rent the DVD. It contains a full uncut version of Nels' summation, from when the clapperboard went in until Scott Hicks says 'cut', and an expanded version of the chess scene between Nels and Kazuo.
The DVD has the usual trailer, production notes and cast bios (Max's seems to have been used again and again by unoriginal promotors of every one of his subsequent films!). There is an excellent director's commentary by Scott Hicks who offers quite alot of information on Max, his role in the film and his persona on set.
Finally, there is also a very good 20 minute documentary called 'Spotlight on Location' in which Max offers three brief insights into the film's production. There is also a delightful, if now fairly standard, little montage of images of Max on and off set over which Hicks remarks what a "giant of European and world cinema" Max is. Behind the scenes footage and his interview were courtesy of his wife, Catherine Brelet von Sydow.
"...there is a performance to cherish from the towering Max von Sydow as aging but still pin-sharp defence lawyer Nils. How he missed out on a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe belies belief"
Ceri Thomas, in FLICKS magazine*
"Snow Falling on Cedars also boasts a wonderful supporting performance from Max von Sydow as the wise old attorney willing to give his life for the cause of justice and decency"
SEVEN Magazine - Scotland on Sunday
"A scene-stealing turn from Max von Sydow"
Geoffrey MacNab, Sight and Sound (UK)
Following Ceri Thomas' very positive review of 'Cedars', the film's release was postponed, causing another reviewer to write another review in a subsquent issue of the magazine (which I think has since gone bust). The latter review, written by Ed Lawrenson, was damning and described Max's performance as "one long coughing fit." Outraged, I wrote to them demanding why they supplied two so wildly different reviews and above all asking why Ed has critised Max in such a shameful way. Well, the letter got published - with an APOLOGY! - and I got a free 'FLICKS' T-shirt out of it!!! As soon as I get the technology, I'll scan the published letter.
--- Campbell, the Max-crusader
Around the same time, though I can't remember if it was from FLICKS, I won a competition and was duly sent David Guterson's novel, the screenplay and the soundtrack CD! ;-)
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