On its simplest level, "Snow Falling on Cedars" is a murder mystery with all the intrigue and drama of a courtroom thriller. The main plot begins with a murder and within the main plot Scott Hicks weaves a series of subplots. It's a story of friendship and a courtroom drama of players like pawns on the chessboard of life.
The visceral and cinematic approach used in the film pierces one's senses with a rich tale of love, betrayal, prejudice and honour.The movie, "Snow Falling on Cedars" is set in the 1950's on San Pedro Island, with a local Japanese fisherman named Kazuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune) being tried for the murder of another man, Carl Heine (Eric Thal). One foggy night, while Carl was out on his boat, the "Susan Marie" a dense fog enveloped his boat. He called for help.
His friend Kazuo Miyamoto docked near him and offered to recharge his battery. However, the next morning, Carl's lifeless body was discovered entangled in his own nets. Kazuo a Japanese American is accused of the murder, him having been at the scene of the crime but a few minutes earlier.As the murder trial unfolds we learn of a possible motive Kazuo may have had. Before the war years, Kazuo's father made an agreement with the victim's father.
Money changed hands, land was promised and terms were set. Unfortunately, the war came and the Japanese Americans were sent away. This agreement was not honoured as nothing was the same at wars' end and the movie addresses this aspect. "Snow Falling on Cedars" addresses one of the darkest aspects of the 20th Century when the Americans were bombed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbour.
Thus the Americans felt insecure and forced the Japanese Americans off into concentration camps during the 1940's. Therefore many of the Americans still harboured a grudge and racial prejudice against the Japanese and every Japanese person was a target and so did the Japanese. Due to these racial conflicts and prejudices Kazuo was hesitant to reveal his side of the story, as he knew the prosecutor would use this information against him, and would distort the facts more especially as he was a Japanese and was considered an outcast.Kazuo was also scared to say anything without his lawyer, and both the police and prosecutor intimidated him.
His actions and thinking was completely understandable considering all the racial conflicts circulating in the air. Due to these prejudices against all Japanese this could warp the outcome of the trial. As the murder mystery unfolded we learnt of the sub-plots the primary one being the poignant love triangle between Hatsue and Ishmael, which was interwoven into the story. In the present Hatsue is married to Kazuo and Ishmael is the reporter who acts as a bystander during the trial.
This is not your ordinary love triangle. This story examines the path that prejudice can take as the plot unfolds. As children they showed a love that was innocent, childlike and deep and it was a love that nobody could break. But during the era of prejudice they couldn't show any affection to one another in public. From small they lived in an era of racial conflicts and prejudices. The Americans were always the superior class and the Japanese were the under dogs, as they worked on the strawberry farms picking strawberries.
Thus they were forced to hide among the cedar trees, run in the rain when no one else was around, and play along the desolate ocean's shore. From al little girl, Hatsue was taught and compelled by her mother to find and marry a Japanese man, and due to these family pressures she couldn't be seen with Ishmael. That is why they always met in secret and hid between the cedar trees not to reveal their relationship to the public, as both Hatsue's parents and Ishmael's parents would disapprove. The predominance of nature and the cedar trees also suggests the innocence of childhood love.This is however soon shattered due to the complications of life and World War II. Hatsue and her family are forced to leave their homes and move into concentration camps, at the same time Ishmael was sent off to fight in the war.
Whilst Hatsue was in the concentration camps and had time to think about her relationship, she decided that it was not worth the trouble and risk to continue her relationship with Ishmael. She realized that if she continued seeing him and her family found out she would have to choose between her family and him.If she chose Ishmael she would lose the support and help of her family and would then be seen as an 'outcast' and if Ishmael left her she would be left all alone. She was also heavily influenced and pressurized by her family and thus also had to leave him. She also came from a different background culturally and was also of a different race.
Hatsue was also uncomfortable in the relationship and also didn't reciprocate the love that Ishmael conveyed to her, as she wasn't as madly in love with Ishmael as he was with her.Her decision was completely justified and understandable considering the complications and situation and conflicts and families involved. Hatsue knew she could no more continue hiding. Ishmael however, thought Hatsue's decision was completely unjust and unfair.
He was absolutely devastated and was furious as he loved her immensely and she was also his first love. He was unable to let go of Hatsue and so he always had a desire and craving for her right until the very end. Ishmael having his arm blown off symbolized this break up by Hatsue.This symbolized that Hatsue was a great part of his life and she completed him and now that she has left him he had lost a part of himself. He unfortunately saw the consequences of their relationship if it continued but still was arrogant and wished to continue.
As the movie continued Ishmael still carried the grudge against Hatsue for inexplicably ending their relationship because he is overwhelmed and overcome by his emotions. At the same time, memories of his dead father, Arthur one of the most respected men in the community and a pillar of integrity, haunts his thoughts.He remembers and understands his father's words, "journalism is making choices". It's only after he embraces his father's values is he able to find peace.
Ishmael then revealed the new evidence and Kazuo was then declared innocent, at the same time Ishmael let go of Hatsue but he still held her close to his heart. I personally believe "Snow Falling on Cedars" is a poignant and beautifully haunting tale of love and murder, which will stand the test of time and be enjoyed by generations to come. The words of the judge (James Cromwell) are food for thought: "accident rules every part of the universe except maybe the chambers of the human heart".
