Snow Cake is a drama film centered on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman and a man traumatized after a fatal car accident. The film was directed by Marc Evans and written by Angela Pell and Darryl Boulley. It stars Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss. Released in 2006, the movie won 3 awards and received 7 nominations. The movie is 1 hour and 52 minutes long.

Plot

Snow Cake tells the story of Alex Hughes, a British ex-convict. Alex is on his way to Winnipeg in Canada but is forced to stop in Wawa. Here he meets Vivienne Freeman, a young extrovert hitchhiking. Unfortunately, their rented car is involved in an accident and Vivienne loses her life. Stranded in Wawa after the accident, Alex decides to meet Vivienne's mother, Linda Freeman. Learning that Linda is a high-functioning autistic individual, Alex bonds with her and tries to adapt to Linda's unique lifestyle. In the process, Alex also begins to develop a relationship with Linda's neighbor Maggie.

However, Clyde, a local police officer who knows about Alex's past and is interested in Maggie, follows Alex with suspicion. The film follows Alex as he confronts his own trauma and undergoes an inner transformation through his interactions with Linda and Maggie. As Alex leaves town, the lives of all three characters are permanently changed by their experiences with each other.

Theme

Snow Cake focuses on the complexity of human relationships, coping with grief and trauma, and the transformative impact of different individuals on each other's lives. The film explores themes of empathy, understanding and acceptance, centering on the unlikely friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman and a man who has suffered a profound personal loss. It is also an exploration of how social prejudices and individual differences can be overcome.

Cast and Characters

• Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman): An ex-convict, Alex is traumatized after a fatal car accident.
• Linda Freeman (Sigourney Weaver): Linda, a high-functioning autistic woman, meets Alex after the death of her daughter Vivienne. She is fond of cleanliness, especially her kitchen, which she won't let anyone into, and eating snow.
• Maggie (Carrie-Anne Moss): Linda's attractive neighbor and begins a friendship with Alex.
• Vivienne Freeman (Emily Hampshire): An outgoing young woman whom Alex meets on the road. She dies in a car accident with Alex in the movie.
• Clyde (James Allodi): He is a local police officer. He knows about Alex's criminal past and dislikes Alex's relationship with Maggie because he is attracted to her.

^{A Scene from the Movie (IMDb)}

Box Office

The estimated budget for the film Snow Cake is US$3,000,000. The film grossed 26,651 US dollars in the US and Canada. During its opening weekend (April 29, 2007), the film grossed 5,030 US dollars in the US and Canada. The film's worldwide gross is 1,384,105 US dollars.

Awards and Nominations

Awards

• Genie Awards (2007): Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Carrie-Anne Moss).
• Cinema Festival Sudbury (2006): Best Ontario Feature Award (Marc Evans - director).
• Alliance of Women Cinema Journalists (2006): EDA Special Mention Award Winner (Best of the Festivals - Marc Evans).

Nominations:

• Berlin International Film Festival (2006): Golden Berlin Bear (Marc Evans).
• Genie Awards (2007): Best Achievement in Cinematography (Steve Cosens).
• Genie Awards (2007): Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Sigourney Weaver).
• Genie Awards (2007): Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Emily Hampshire).
• Seattle International Film Festival (2006): Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actor (Alan Rickman).
• Seattle International Film Festival (2006): Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actress (Sigourney Weaver).
• Directors Guild of Canada (2006): DGC Craft Award - Outstanding Production Design - Feature Film (Matthew Davis).