AllMovie

The Japanese Snow Country weaves a simple but deeply involving tale of a painter and the woman he loves. The painter falls hard for his latest subject, a beautiful geisha girl. Unfortunately, their relationship is compromised by the well-meaning intrusions of his family and friends. Like many of director Shiro Toyoda's best films, Snow Country takes a gentle, almost humorous squint at the question of individuality vs. conformity. The provincialism of the characters is emphasized by the vast expanses of snowy wastes surrounding the village where the story takes place.