Smilla's Feeling for Snow

Bille August, 1997 (121 mins, Cert. 15)

Adapted from Peter Hoeg's novel, Ormond dominates as Smilla, unravelling the mysterious death of her six-year-old neighbour in the icy landscape of Greenland.
(Playhouse publicity)

I enjoyed this a lot, but it may disappoint those looking for a film that has similar qualities to the book. Julia Ormond is a highly believeable Smilla, and the feel of the varied locations is well conveyed. The basic story line has been retained, but a great deal of plot detail has been dispensed with, even more seems to have ended up on the cutting room floor. What is left is a good-looking, pacey, well-acted, intriguing tale of revelations that suffers less than does the book from the James Bond-ish motivations of the villain but which leaves Smilla seeming much more of a passive figure than Hoeg's heroine.
(Steve Fagg)

Seen: Tuesday, 12th May, 1998 (Harlow Playhouse)