‘Snow Cake’ allows Weaver to shine
Video Viper for WEEKENDER, Feb. 13, 2009
Sitting there quietly eating at a diner, Alan Rickman’s character in “Snow Cake,” Alex Hughes, could easily be mistaken for an English professor.
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He’s reserved. He keeps to himself while finishing a meal in an out-of-the-way Ontario diner.
Unlucky for him but an outgoing young lady named Vivienne (Emily Hampshire) plops down beside him. She starts to talk and when he tries politely to tell her he’s not interested in a protracted dialogue, she continues anyway.
Hampshire, as does all of the actors in this film, does an outstanding job leaving a positive impression on the viewer. She has to do it quickly, because she’s not in the film for long.
She hitches a ride with Hughes, who we learn was recently released from prison after being convicted of a murder charge.
But before we can absorb this much, a tractor-trailer rig comes barreling down the road and smashes into his car, killing the girl.
The Rickman character is so distraught, he decides he has to visit the victim’s mother and explain.
The mother happens to be a somewhat functioning autistic played beautifully by Sigourney Weaver. Weaver is matter-of-fact about her daughter’s death. It appears Hughes was expecting her to break down in grief so they could discuss the tragedy and he could exact an amount of closure.
Instead, the Weaver character is worried about his wet clothes messing up her house and is highly upset he might wander into her kitchen.
It is obvious the Weaver character can’t really function. Her daughter handled her affairs and when daughter wasn’t there, she had her parents. But her parents are on a trip and can’t be found.
Feeling responsible even though he isn’t, the Rickman character decides to stay and help Weaver’s character identify the body and plan the funeral.
Her young daughter might be dead but Weaver is also greatly concerned the garbage needs taken out on Tuesday and she can’t handle garbage. So Rickman’s character agrees to stay, sleeping in a lower bunk to Weaver’s high bunk, until the funeral and trash day.
The film, as any good film does, runs from funny to poignant to sad.
It takes exceptional talent to pull off a character story when a main character pretty much has no character.
Adding to the mix is Carrie, played by Ann Ross. She’s a neighbor wants to help Weaver, but Weaver’s character thinks she’s a prostitute. This comment leads to a hilarious and embarassing situation later in the story.
Rickman garners suspicion amongst the town people. Why is he staying with the mother of the girl who was killed in his car? But the townspeople only offer obligatory help to the Weaver character. As the film progresses, we discover why Rickman’s Hughes was in jail and what prompted the murder. We learn something about redemption and forgiveness and humanity. “Snow Cake” is an exceptional film and from what little I saw of Hampshire in this film, I’m looking forward to seeing her in future films. SNOW CAKE • Directed by Marc Evans, written by Angela Pell • Runtime: 112 minutes • Not rated although the fatal accident and viewing of the body are disturbing and there are sexual situations • 4 stars out of 5
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