Snow Falling on Cedars



First a novel by David Gutterson, then a film directed by Scott Hicks, Snow Falling on Cedars tells the story of the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese-American, accused of murdering a white man, Carl Heine. The backstory dives into the entire community on a small, close-knit island. As the trial goes on, flasbacks establish the past relationship between the disillusioned journalist covering the case, and Kabuo's wife, the beautiful Hatsue, from childhood.


 * Biggus Dickus: Carl Heine has a large penis. This is repeatedly emphasised, to the point when the coroner observing his dead body gets penis envy.
 * Caught in the Rain: has Hatsue and Ishmael, as teenagers, taking shelter from the rain in a fallen tree.
 * Crowning Music of Awesome: The music for Tarawa
 * Flash Back: make up more than half the story.
 * Determined Homesteader: Hatsue and her husband, Kabuo, in Snow Falling on Cedars.
 * The Fifties: Set in 1951.
 * Me Love You Long Time: Arguably averted, as while the Japanese girl is very much in love with the Western guy, circumstances force her to marry a fellow Japanese.
 * In the book, the relationship between Ishmael and Hatsue wasn't quite that simple, and she truly loves her husband.
 * Unlucky Childhood Friend: Oh, Ishmael.
 * Shower of Love: Carl's widow, during Kabuo's trial, privately and despairingly flashes back to this as one of the last memories she shared with her dead husband. I'd be sad too, given the earlier trope mentioned...