Smilla's Sense of Snow

"Some Tracks Should Never Be Uncovered."

1997 2h 1m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 276

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Smilla Jaspersen attempts to understand the death of a small boy who falls from the roof of her apartment building. Suspecting wrongdoing, Smilla uncovers a trail of clues leading towards a secretive corporation that has made several mysterious expeditions to Greenland.

“Some Tracks Should Never Be Uncovered.”

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Cast

Julia Ormond
Smilla Jasperson
Gabriel Byrne
The Mechanic
Richard Harris
Dr. Andreas Tork
Jim Broadbent
Dr. Lagermann
Tom Wilkinson
Prof. Loyen
Robert Loggia
Moritz Jasperson
Vanessa Redgrave
Elsa Lübing
Bob Peck
Ravn

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bille August
Writers: Ann Biderman
Languages: Inuktitut, English
Countries: Germany, Denmark, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 7% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

29 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Inuktitut, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Germany, Denmark, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bille August, shot by Jörgen Persson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Janus Billeskov Jansen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Julia Ormond and Gabriel Byrne and Richard Harris carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bille August directs. Jörgen Persson behind the camera. Harry Gregson-Williams scores. Janus Billeskov Jansen cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Germany, Denmark, Sweden. Dialogue in Inuktitut, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 7% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
229 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Inuktitut, English.
4International production across 3 countries: Germany, Denmark, Sweden.
5Directed by Bille August, shot by Jörgen Persson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Janus Billeskov Jansen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Julia Ormond and Gabriel Byrne and Richard Harris carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Some Tracks Should Never Be Uncovered.".
10IMDB entry: tt0120152 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 10 themes, including "based on novel or book", "copenhagen, denmark", "inuit", "comet".