- Release year: 2024
- Director: Tokuzô Tanaka.
- Producers: Ikuo Kubodera and Masaichi Nagata.
- Screenplay by: Lafcadio Hearn and Fuji Yahiro.
- Cinematography by: Chikashi Makiura.
- Music by: Akira Ifukube.
Synopsis: a woman who controls snow and can freeze anything and anyone, falls in love with a man who doesn’t know who she really is.
Shotgun Commentary: a beautiful love story with a tragic Orpheus-and-Eurydice kind of ending.
Review
The Snow Woman is an epic tragedy in the form of a fable with a takeaway that reminds of Greek myths. In it, we are introduced to “the snow woman” (Shiho Fujimura), a creature that could not be further from the renowned Abominable Snow Man or Big Foot. Instead, she is a beautiful woman with blueish skin and yellow eyes that wanders around when there is heavy snowfall.
However, her looks don’t make her any less dangerous than the aforementioned legends. In fact, while both of those male creatures need to get close to you in order to hurt you, the snow woman can do it just by looking at you, making her way deadlier.
Despite her cold demeanour, she falls in love with a young man, whom she spares of his life in exchange for him promising not to ever tell anyone that he’s seen her. Said man is a sculptor, who meets and marries a young lady a little time after the snow woman attack. You can guess who that young woman is.
Radiance has brought back this Japanese classic with their 4K restoration of the film. The Blu-ray includes some extra content for anyone interested in the genre and history of the movie, and it’s part of a trilogy that is sold together under the name of Daiei Gothic. Along with The Ghost of Yotsuya (1959) and The Bride of Hades (1968), they form the collection, of which you’ll find more information at the end of this review.
Pleasant surprises
The Snow Woman is quite unexpected in terms of genre and atmosphere. A story with the title of a seemingly frightful creature, that is confirmed to be a powerful and deadly force from the very beginning, is not exactly what you would think of as a love story.
Still, the feature manages to narrate a very heart-warming story with the makings of a fable rather than a potentially real account. Its detachment from reality, and sometimes logic, makes it easier for the messages of the film to get across. From the obvious reminder of how important keeping one’s word is, to never trusting appearances or underestimating an opponent, the film is full of moral and practical lessons.
Likewise, the movie is surprising from a more technical point of view. Often, classic dramas with love as a central topic can drag on almost infinitely. Luckily, The Snow Woman does not adhere to that tradition. It keeps the tale simple and to the point, respecting its audience’s time. Additionally, it has some fantastic practical effects. The departments of cinematography and makeup join forces, utilising a combination of lights and cosmetics to create the snow woman’s transformations. The end result is beautiful as it is frightful, nailing the character as well as the genre of the piece.
A unique protagonist
The snow woman, also known as Yuki in her human form, is a complex being whose evolution becomes more compelling than that of any other creature in cinema history. She has a dual nature, vengeful creature on the one hand, and loving mother and wife on the other. These opposites that somehow meet in one person make her one of the most complex “monsters” of the 60s. Fujimura delivers an inspired performance, utilising her eyes to convey all of Yuki’s emotions, as well as transforming her expression to make for the most shocking transformations. Undoubtedly, she is the big star of the show, leaving everyone else around her as an afterthought in comparison.
All in all, The Snow Woman is a brilliant classic that tells the tragic story of a captivating character. Everything works in unison to deliver an entertaining story that respects and entertains its audience.
If you are a fan of this film or gothic Japanese cinema in general, The Snow Woman is now available for purchase in the Daiei Gothic collection. Through Radiance in the UK, and in USA/Canada through MVD, Diabolik, Orbit, Grindhouse, Rough Cut Canada and others.
LIMITED EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES
- New 4K restorations of each film
- Uncompressed mono PCM audio for each film
- Optional English subtitles for all films
- Newly designed box and booklet artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited edition 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by authors Tom Mes, Zack Davisson and Paul Murray, newly translated archival reviews and ghost stories by Lafcadio Hearn
- Limited Edition of 4,000 copies presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases for each film and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
THE SNOW WOMAN SPECIAL FEATURES
- New interview with filmmaker Masayuki Ochiai
- A visual essay on writer Lafcadio Hearn by Paul Murray
- Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista
Find the Radiance release right here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- Keep your promises.
- Men are pigs.
- Snow creatures apparently don’t need hands?
What’s your take? Have you watched The Snow Woman? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀