Author(s): Ryan Drake
Location: N/A
“Snowfall"
Directed by Paul Haggis
Written by Paul Haggis
Principal Cast:
Terrance Howard as Walter Stevens
Kerry Washington as Tina Stevens
Shareeka Epps as Tonya Stevens
Forest Whitaker as James Stevens
Thandie Newton as Mikeyla Stevens
Synopsis: Walter has always has trouble getting over the death of his father James, and his mother Mikeyla. His parents died when he was only 14 years old, and has never been the same since. His grieving is so strong that he can’t separate the past from the present, and relates everything to back when he was a child while his parents were alive. One of his recurring memories is when it would snow. His father always made him shovel the snow. Walter complained but would always do it. Than when he finally finished the wind would blow, and he would have to reshovel all the snow from the roof tops. He never knows why this dream keeps recurring in his mind. Though he is always depressed he has the perfect wife, and what seems like a perfect daughter. His wife, Tina is getting sick and tired of all his grieving. His daughter Tonya is a perfect student. We find out that Tonya actually acts out because of the lack of parenting she is getting. She acts tough to cover it up, especially after Walter has an emotional break down at a student teacher conference on his parent’s death anniversary. She pulls of the grades and acts nice in front of her parents but at school she is somewhat of a bully. Walter seeks help in church and finally gets over his parents death. The unthinkable happens the next day. Tina gets in a car accident, and passes away. When he hears the news what he thinks about is when he is finished shoveling, the snow falls from the rooftop and he much shovel again. His grief gets worse and Tonya can’t take the lack of parenting she is getting from her father. She yells at him, “You are suppose to be protecting me, helping me get through this, I shouldn’t be responsible for your feelings you are the parent you are suppose to care for me.” Tonya’s grades start to slip and the teacher tells Walter she hasn’t been acting the same. Walter’s reaction is, “What do you expect, her mother just died she will probably never recover, I don’t expect you to ever understand, but how do you expect her to act?” As Walter’s grief gets worse, he starts to see his wife in Tonya, and can’t get the image out of her head. As a year passes he finally is able to function correctly after Tina’s death. He than has a flashback of finishing the shoveling. Than after picking up Tonya from school she tells him about her life at school. As they get in an argument she gets out of the car. As she starts to walk home snow starts falling. Walter distraught after their argument drives home in tears. As scenes change from the snow falling when he was a child to present, things start to emerge. The snow gets heavier and heavier. Tonya crying just walks across the street without looking. As she notices the car driving full speed, she turns into her mother. Tonya dies, and the clip of the wind blowing making Walter reshovel. As Walter gets the news he cries repeating “I can’t be alone, I can’t be alone.” The voiceover is his voice saying, “Will I ever recover? I don’t know. All I know is that no matter how hard you try you can’t change destiny, and no matter how hard you try, the wind will always blow, and the snow will always fall.”
What the press would say:
Snowfall is this month’s best. The emotional story of forgiveness, heartache, and grief is a beautifully written piece. Terrance Howard gives a knock out performance as Walter, the man who can’t grieve properly. His tears and pain make you cry with him. Skareeka Epps gives a notable performance with an amazing follow up to Half Nelson. Kerry Washington thought only on screen for 45 minutes, is captivating in every scene she is in. Snowfall’s simile is intelligent and beautifully executed through out the movie as Walter goes in and out of the past and present. Wonderful filming from Paul Haggis cleaning up the mistakes he made from Crash and you can see he has grown as a writer and director. Snowfall leads this years Oscars with 8 nominations:
Best Picture- Snowfall
Best Director- Paul Haggis
Best O. Screenplay- Paul Haggis
Best Actor- Terrance Howard
Best Supporting Actress- Shareeka Epps
Best Supporting Actress- Kerry Washington
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Location: N/A
“Snowfall"
Directed by Paul Haggis
Written by Paul Haggis
Principal Cast:
Terrance Howard as Walter Stevens
Kerry Washington as Tina Stevens
Shareeka Epps as Tonya Stevens
Forest Whitaker as James Stevens
Thandie Newton as Mikeyla Stevens
Synopsis: Walter has always has trouble getting over the death of his father James, and his mother Mikeyla. His parents died when he was only 14 years old, and has never been the same since. His grieving is so strong that he can’t separate the past from the present, and relates everything to back when he was a child while his parents were alive. One of his recurring memories is when it would snow. His father always made him shovel the snow. Walter complained but would always do it. Than when he finally finished the wind would blow, and he would have to reshovel all the snow from the roof tops. He never knows why this dream keeps recurring in his mind. Though he is always depressed he has the perfect wife, and what seems like a perfect daughter. His wife, Tina is getting sick and tired of all his grieving. His daughter Tonya is a perfect student. We find out that Tonya actually acts out because of the lack of parenting she is getting. She acts tough to cover it up, especially after Walter has an emotional break down at a student teacher conference on his parent’s death anniversary. She pulls of the grades and acts nice in front of her parents but at school she is somewhat of a bully. Walter seeks help in church and finally gets over his parents death. The unthinkable happens the next day. Tina gets in a car accident, and passes away. When he hears the news what he thinks about is when he is finished shoveling, the snow falls from the rooftop and he much shovel again. His grief gets worse and Tonya can’t take the lack of parenting she is getting from her father. She yells at him, “You are suppose to be protecting me, helping me get through this, I shouldn’t be responsible for your feelings you are the parent you are suppose to care for me.” Tonya’s grades start to slip and the teacher tells Walter she hasn’t been acting the same. Walter’s reaction is, “What do you expect, her mother just died she will probably never recover, I don’t expect you to ever understand, but how do you expect her to act?” As Walter’s grief gets worse, he starts to see his wife in Tonya, and can’t get the image out of her head. As a year passes he finally is able to function correctly after Tina’s death. He than has a flashback of finishing the shoveling. Than after picking up Tonya from school she tells him about her life at school. As they get in an argument she gets out of the car. As she starts to walk home snow starts falling. Walter distraught after their argument drives home in tears. As scenes change from the snow falling when he was a child to present, things start to emerge. The snow gets heavier and heavier. Tonya crying just walks across the street without looking. As she notices the car driving full speed, she turns into her mother. Tonya dies, and the clip of the wind blowing making Walter reshovel. As Walter gets the news he cries repeating “I can’t be alone, I can’t be alone.” The voiceover is his voice saying, “Will I ever recover? I don’t know. All I know is that no matter how hard you try you can’t change destiny, and no matter how hard you try, the wind will always blow, and the snow will always fall.”
What the press would say:
Snowfall is this month’s best. The emotional story of forgiveness, heartache, and grief is a beautifully written piece. Terrance Howard gives a knock out performance as Walter, the man who can’t grieve properly. His tears and pain make you cry with him. Skareeka Epps gives a notable performance with an amazing follow up to Half Nelson. Kerry Washington thought only on screen for 45 minutes, is captivating in every scene she is in. Snowfall’s simile is intelligent and beautifully executed through out the movie as Walter goes in and out of the past and present. Wonderful filming from Paul Haggis cleaning up the mistakes he made from Crash and you can see he has grown as a writer and director. Snowfall leads this years Oscars with 8 nominations:
Best Picture- Snowfall
Best Director- Paul Haggis
Best O. Screenplay- Paul Haggis
Best Actor- Terrance Howard
Best Supporting Actress- Shareeka Epps
Best Supporting Actress- Kerry Washington
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
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