Can a film be both atmospheric and absurd? Smilla's Sense of Snow proves it.
In short: Directed by Bille August, this 1997 thriller follows an ice specialist investigating a young boy's suspicious death in Copenhagen. While critics praised the film's mood and Julia Ormond's performance, many found the plot's transition from mystery to high-stakes Arctic adventure increasingly implausible, leading to a polarized reception among reviewers.
Smilla Jaspersen, a transplanted Greenlander living in Copenhagen, begins her investigation after finding six-year-old Isaiah Christiansen dead outside her apartment complex. While police dismiss the death as an accidental fall, Smilla notices footprints suggesting the boy was fleeing in terror. Her suspicions deepen when she discovers a puncture wound on the boy's body and learns that a prominent professor, Dr. Johannes Loyen, had been monitoring him monthly. Smilla eventually uncovers a conspiracy involving Greenland Mining, a corporation searching for an energy-producing meteorite in the Arctic.
The narrative takes a turn when Smilla discovers that the company's expeditions are linked to a lethal, prehistoric parasite. According to medical x-rays, this "Arctic worm" caused the deaths of mine workers, and the company sought to hide its existence while exploiting the meteorite's power. As Smilla tracks the truth, she faces threats from the company's CEO, Dr. Andreas Tork, and a corrupt detective. The film culminates in a remote Greenland ice cave, where a confrontation leads to the destruction of the research site and the deaths of the primary antagonists.
Upon its release, the film garnered mixed reviews, holding a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48% score on Metacritic. Critics like Roger Ebert acknowledged the film's "goofiest plots" yet argued that its strong atmosphere and style kept it compelling. Conversely, others, including Janet Maslin of The New York Times, criticized the film for devolving into "ever less credible derring-do." Despite these critiques, the film grossed $23.1 million worldwide and earned Bille August a Golden Bear nomination at the 47th Berlin International Film Festival.
The production spanned several international locations, including Bavaria Film Studios in Germany, Copenhagen, and various sites in Greenland and Sweden. While the film's technical execution and lead performance were widely lauded, the consensus remains that the narrative's shift toward an action-heavy finale undermined its initial promise as a grounded mystery. Ultimately, the film stands as a curious example of how tone and performance can occasionally sustain a project even when its plot stretches the limits of audience belief.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Smilla's Sense of Snow (film)
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