Smilla's Sense of Snow

In 1859, a meteorite blazes through the sky before crashing into the Gela Alta glacier in western Greenland. This catastrophic event not only alters the landscape but tragically ends the life of an unsuspecting Inuit fisherman in the vicinity.

Fast forward to present-day Copenhagen, where Smilla Jaspersen, an expert in ice crystals, struggles with unemployment. Despite her qualifications, she finds herself battling a troubled past that weighs heavily on her professional and personal life.

One evening, Smilla returns to her apartment complex and discovers the lifeless body of six-year-old Isaiah Christiansen in the snow. The authorities label the incident as an accident, yet Smilla's intuition suggests foul play, especially considering Isaiah's fear of heights.

At the morgue, Smilla meets Dr. Lagermann, who reveals that Dr. Johannes Loyen performed Isaiah's autopsy. Smilla becomes uneasy when Loyen dismisses her concerns about the boy's death, labeling it a simple accident.

Refusing to accept the official narrative, Smilla files a complaint with the District Attorney's office to challenge the conclusion. Her investigation leads her to Dr. Lagermann, who discloses that he found a puncture wound on Isaiah's thigh, indicating prior medical examination.

During Isaiah's funeral, Smilla witnesses Dr. Andreas Tork attempting to bribe Isaiah's mother. Anger ensues as she rejects Tork's offer, given the painful memories of her husband's death tied to the mining company she suspects of wrongdoing.

Detective Ravn agrees to look into the case but has apparent ties to Tork and his mining company. Undeterred, Smilla seeks out the former accountant, uncovering a report that details the company's dubious practices in Greenland.

While searching in the apartment complex, Smilla discovers a hidden cassette tape in the wall. When she consults Licht, a blind audio expert, he reveals it contains a conversation between Isaiah and his father, providing critical clues.

Shortly after revealing the tape's contents, Licht is brutally murdered, leaving Smilla in a precarious and dangerous situation. This devastating loss forces her to flee in haste, heightening the stakes of her investigation.

Disguised as an employee, Smilla infiltrates the mining ship where she meets Nils Jakkelsen. Together, they discover videotapes that indicate the mining company's prior knowledge of the dangers associated with the meteorite they uncovered.

Smilla's father provides x-rays that reveal a startling truth about a predatory Arctic worm responsible for the accidental deaths of workers. This discovery sheds light on a long-standing cover-up tied to the mining operations.

In a climactic confrontation inside an ice cave, Tork reveals that Isaiah's father was infected by the worm while diving near the meteorite site. As tensions soar, an armed conflict ensues, leading to tragic consequences.

During the chaos, Professor Loyen inadvertently falls into the icy pool containing the meteorite, leading to his instant freezing and death. This unexpected turn adds another layer of tragedy to the already fraught circumstances.

As Smilla chases Tork across the ice, the mechanic detonates a powerful bomb, causing the ice cave to collapse. This act of defiance ensures that anyone left behind is entombed inside, symbolizing the end of their dark conspiracy.

As Tork drowns in the icy waters, Smilla stands above, surveying the snow-covered landscape filled with memories of her childhood. She reflects on the injustice surrounding Isaiah’s death and the harsh realities of the world around her.