Snow Cake

Infobox_Film
name = Snow Cake


imdb_id = 0448124
writer = Angela Pell
starring = Alan Rickman
Sigourney Weaver
Carrie-Anne Moss
Emily Hampshire
Callum Keith Rennie
director = Marc Evans
producer =
distributor =
released = September 8, 2006 (UK)
December 1, 2006 (USA),
September 14, 2006 (Canada)
runtime = 112 minutes
language = English
music = Broken Social Scene
awards =
budget =

"Snow Cake" is a 2006 independent drama film directed by Marc Evans and starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Hampshire, and Callum Keith Rennie. It was released on September 8, 2006 in the UK.

Filmed in Wawa, Ontario, "Snow Cake" is a drama about the friendship between Linda, an autistic woman (Weaver), and Alex (Rickman) who is traumatized after a car accident involving himself and Linda's daughter (Hampshire).

The movie was screened and discussed at Autism Cymru 2nd international conference in May 2006 as well as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, among others. It was the opening night screening for the Berlin Film Festival as well. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4795787.stm BBC News] URL last accessed September 23, 2006.]

Plot

When Vivienne Freeman (Emily Hampshire) gets a ride from ex-convict Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman), she is killed by a truck crashing into the car, while Alex only gets a nosebleed. Everybody agrees that it is not Alex's fault. He visits the victim's mother Linda (Sigourney Weaver), who is autistic. She has been informed about her daughter's death a few hours before Alex's visit, but does not show any signs of grief. However, she has a cleanliness mania which involves her constantly making sure everything in her home is neat, and prevents her from touching garbage bags. Her problem is finding someone who will put the garbage outside to be collected, as this was always something done by her daughter. Linda insists that Alex stay a few days so that he can do it for her. He agrees and also arranges Vivienne's funeral.

During his stay he begins a relationship with one of Linda's neighbours, Maggie (Carrie-Anne Moss), who Linda mistakenly thinks is a prostitute. The police warn Maggie against becoming close with Alex because he is not long out of jail for committing murder. Maggie does not confront Alex about the matter, but instead waits until he brings the subject up himself. Alex reveals that he killed the man who caused his son's death in a car crash while he was on his way to meet Alex for the first time — Alex had only recently learned about his existence, the result of an affair a long time ago.

Linda dislikes Maggie to the point where she initially refuses her help. But after Alex leaves to see the mother of his son, she allows Maggie to come into her home and help her.

Awards and critical recognition

The film was nominated in 4 categories for the 27th Genie Awards in 2007:
*Best actress: Sigourney Weaver
*Best supporting actress: Emily Hampshire
*Best supporting actress: Carrie Anne Moss (Won)
*Cinematography: Steve Cosens

Also, "Snow Cake" won the Zip.ca People's Choice Award at the 2007 Kingston Canadian Film Festival.

Production notes

The screenwriter, Angela Pell, wrote the role of Alex Hughes with Rickman in mind.Fact|date=January 2008 It was also Rickman who read the script and made sure Sigourney Weaver (with whom he had previously starred in "Galaxy Quest") was contacted about the role of Linda.Fact|date=January 2008 Both Rickman and Weaver were runners-up at the Seattle International Film Festival for the respective prizes of Best Actor and Best Actress.

During the course of making the movie, Sigourney Weaver (Linda) researched deeply the subject of austism, and was coached by a woman with the condition. Alan Rickman didn't research the subject of autism, to make his character have an impact/shock when facing Linda. [ [http://www.indielondon.co.uk/DVD-Review/snow-cake-review IndieLondon: Snow Cake - Review] URL last accessed March 17 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.snowcakemovie.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://fortissimofilms.com/catalogue/title.asp?filmID=264 Trailer]
* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snow_cake/reviews_users.php Rotten Tomatoes Page]
*imdb title|id=0448124|title=Snow Cake