The film does not ring the bell to a lot of people, most of us probably hear the title, TREASURES OF THE SNOW, for the first time. Yesterday, on Christmas night, I found out that a Polish TV is broadcasting this film. I saw some part of it as a child but did not remember it well enough. And with some curiosity, I sat on my chair and, being not particularly knowledgeable of the film, I did not expect great experience. It was going to be nothing more than a sheer relaxation for the moody Christmas evening. Nevertheless, the action of the film, its wonderful scenery, and foremost, its particularly touching moral, involved me entirely.
TREASURES OF THE SNOW (1980) is a story of children who live in a Swiss countryside. The film starts in "media res", we see children arriving at a small train station and a 14 year- old boy reflecting on his guilt, nervous and striking not to be noticed. Soon comes a much earlier moment and the whole film explains the beginning. Dani (Timothy Fleetwood) and Lucien (Paul Dean) are friends. Once, when they are in a forest, Lucien teases Dani by taking his sweet little kitten and putting it in a rock hole. Desperate Dani tries to save the kitten and accidentally falls from a rocky mountain. That is the beginning of their tragedy. Dani's leg is broken so seriously that there is no entire cure for him, Lucien is "cursed" and considered an "evil maker" by many villagers, particularly by Dani's sister Annette (Carey Born) and his class mates ... he does not know how to live and be happy. But destiny does not punish him as severely as most people do. He once meets a man who teaches him the art of craftsman. He begins to sculpt animals of wood and soon his works are appreciated by many people. However, seeing Dani limp and having his guilt all the time before his eyes does not allow him to live. The bad atmosphere is intensified by Dani's sister who finds every chance to take revenge on Lucien. In this desperate situation, there comes a moment of forgiveness, a moment of redress, a moment which lightens their lives without exception... But I won't say the end because watching the film would never be the surprise it should be...
SOME ADVANTAGES: The cast mostly consist of young people and children, but they play quite well. I found their performances pretty natural and moving. The scenery of the beautiful mountains and calm Swiss villages provides a very peaceful mood to the whole film. For people who like such sentimental films set in Austrian or Swiss countryside (one of such was a wonderful musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC from 1965), this film is a must see. But foremost, these are moving moments and profound religious (Christian) conclusions that make the film particularly memorable for believers. Consider, for instance, Annette's prayer to God when she needs help. Doesn't it teach us to have open hearts?...
POSSIBLE SPOILER: I know that the film may seem barely artistic. This is, of course, no masterpiece. There are many other films of this genre which deserve more attention. Sometimes, the action is deadly slow, cinematography is quite weak; the whole film may seem quite limited as to the kind of viewers. Nevertheless, it also does have something to offer, something precious that you probably won't find elsewhere. It is very moral in a beautiful, appealing way.
I recommend seeing TREASURES OF THE SNOW, particularly to children and teenagers. It is a very sentimental, moral lesson of redress and forgiveness (which are most appealing when not separated from each other). And it shows one important fact - it is better to leave judgment to Somebody Else who knows better than we do rather than punish others so quickly and so easily. Good film!
TREASURES OF THE SNOW (1980) is a story of children who live in a Swiss countryside. The film starts in "media res", we see children arriving at a small train station and a 14 year- old boy reflecting on his guilt, nervous and striking not to be noticed. Soon comes a much earlier moment and the whole film explains the beginning. Dani (Timothy Fleetwood) and Lucien (Paul Dean) are friends. Once, when they are in a forest, Lucien teases Dani by taking his sweet little kitten and putting it in a rock hole. Desperate Dani tries to save the kitten and accidentally falls from a rocky mountain. That is the beginning of their tragedy. Dani's leg is broken so seriously that there is no entire cure for him, Lucien is "cursed" and considered an "evil maker" by many villagers, particularly by Dani's sister Annette (Carey Born) and his class mates ... he does not know how to live and be happy. But destiny does not punish him as severely as most people do. He once meets a man who teaches him the art of craftsman. He begins to sculpt animals of wood and soon his works are appreciated by many people. However, seeing Dani limp and having his guilt all the time before his eyes does not allow him to live. The bad atmosphere is intensified by Dani's sister who finds every chance to take revenge on Lucien. In this desperate situation, there comes a moment of forgiveness, a moment of redress, a moment which lightens their lives without exception... But I won't say the end because watching the film would never be the surprise it should be...
SOME ADVANTAGES: The cast mostly consist of young people and children, but they play quite well. I found their performances pretty natural and moving. The scenery of the beautiful mountains and calm Swiss villages provides a very peaceful mood to the whole film. For people who like such sentimental films set in Austrian or Swiss countryside (one of such was a wonderful musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC from 1965), this film is a must see. But foremost, these are moving moments and profound religious (Christian) conclusions that make the film particularly memorable for believers. Consider, for instance, Annette's prayer to God when she needs help. Doesn't it teach us to have open hearts?...
POSSIBLE SPOILER: I know that the film may seem barely artistic. This is, of course, no masterpiece. There are many other films of this genre which deserve more attention. Sometimes, the action is deadly slow, cinematography is quite weak; the whole film may seem quite limited as to the kind of viewers. Nevertheless, it also does have something to offer, something precious that you probably won't find elsewhere. It is very moral in a beautiful, appealing way.
I recommend seeing TREASURES OF THE SNOW, particularly to children and teenagers. It is a very sentimental, moral lesson of redress and forgiveness (which are most appealing when not separated from each other). And it shows one important fact - it is better to leave judgment to Somebody Else who knows better than we do rather than punish others so quickly and so easily. Good film!