Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997)

52% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(4,913 ratings)

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… More 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 sympathetic. Smilla discovers that the boy's family is connected to a mining company conducting top-secret research in her ancestral home of Greenland. Then she spies the Mechanic and the company's president (Richard Harris) dining together. Is she a paranoid conspiracy theorist or a sleuth uncovering a bizarre murder mystery? When a retired secretary (Vanessa Redgrave) helps her make a critical discovery, Smilla sets off for Greenland, where the otherworldly, prehistoric answer to her questions awaits. Danish director Bille August's previous film Pelle the Conqueror (1987) also concerned the bond between an adult Denmark émigré and a child. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Bille August
Written By: Ann Biderman
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Feb 28, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Mar 13, 2001

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Bad title, good movie.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
An atmospheric and enjoyably preposterous mystery.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Fascinating setting and strong performances make up for the far-fetched plotting.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
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.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Odd, atmospheric thriller that completely falls apart in the finale
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
The idiotic ending seems to belong to another movie.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
An underrated and effective thriller, buoyed by a fine performance from Julia Ormond.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Reveals zeal to be a virtue when it is put into practice as service of others.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

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… More
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!
Bruce B

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… More
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 young boy played a good part. A must see must add to any collection, starts in Greenland then to Denmark, my type of film, one that shows anything but America. 5 Stars. Thank you.
Bill C

If it bothers you when you like a song and don’t know all the words to, this is not a movie for you. If you don’t mind humming your way through the verses to get to the refrain you’ll probably like this movie. I love this movie even with its abrupt transitions and so-so plot. Personal… More
If it bothers you when you like a song and don’t know all the words to, this is not a movie for you. If you don’t mind humming your way through the verses to get to the refrain you’ll probably like this movie. I love this movie even with its abrupt transitions and so-so plot. Personal bias, yes, Julia Ormond is gorgeous, but the role plays to her strengths. She is a kept well off by here Anglo father which she resents and tries to keep to her mothers Inuit roots. Unlike Legends of the fall, First Knight and some what Sabrina, she is cast as an active participant in her life and it works. At a cursory review it’s a Nancy Drew mystery grown up, but Its really more about her relationship to the boy who dies and how that pans out across the mystery which is her own self perception. I couldn’t be a spoiler if I wanted to I can’t remember what was under the ice, but it’s not really important in the scheme of the movie