Snowcake - a film drama

We went to see it because of my involvement with Tiggers and we were there so here are some thoughts about the film.

The official film reviews say; 'A drama focused on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman (Weaver) and a man (Rickman) who is traumatised after a fatal car accident'.

'Sometimes stopping is the most important part of the journey'.

Snowflake was on at the main screen of the four at Zeffirelli's Cinema in Ambleside in September 2006 although its finished there now. I'd recommend a cinema and meal package there if you don't mind vegetarian (like to put a word in for Zeffirelli's and the restaurant nothing to do with the film).

Sigourney Weaver plays the part of the autistic mother, Linda. Although the story revolves around an English sounding person just out of jail, called Alex, played by Alan Rickman. He seems such a nice man he couldn't have committed a crime.

Plenty of snow in North Ontario and after a road accident Alex visits Linda.

Here begins the portrayal of autism - Linda doesn't answer the door as she is playing weird music but he eventually gets to meet her. She likes the sparkly balls her daughter sent but isn't much concerned about her death. She enjoys rolling in the snow and trampolining. The house is very neat and everything has a place and frequently a label.

Alex learns she's autistic and stays on for the funeral.

He finds out from her parents, who looked after Linda's daughter, that no-one knows how Linda got pregnant. Although many possibilities cross your mind including that her father could have been something to do with it, but he was a caring man, surely not. Well that's just muck raking caused by reading too much scandal.

Anyway next door is an attractive woman and she likes Alex a lot. This causes some jealousy from the young, handsome, cocky, local police chief who keeps popping in to see her with chocolates. Lots of sub-plots. Including the mystery of his background.

The town is full of women giving Alex the eye, men of a certain age must be hot in Canada. I thought mounties and lumberjacks were Canadian types and Alex didn't look like those.

To cut a long story short and not spoil it .... the film continues from there for quite a while to the end. Why it's called Snowcake is revealed to those who watch it, but not here.

Nice acting, human interest story, bit slow at times and low key. Would recommend for those interested in Sigourney's portrayal of autism and draw your own opinion.

Find out more from these websites including mini-biographies of the actors.