SNOW ANGELS

US, 2007, 107 minutes, Colour.
Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Jeannetta Arnette, Griffin Dunne, Nicky Katt, Tom Noonan, Amy Sedaris, Olivia Thirlby.
Directed by David Gordon Green.

Snow Angels is a grim film. It has two strands running through it, a narrative about a young teenager at school, his relationship with his parents, their separation, his friendship with a girl at school. He works at a Chinese restaurant and one of his co-workers is a divorcee. She has a young child, is estranged from her husband who tends to stalk her.

The film develops these two strands in parallel, the teenager being the connecting point. Later in the film, the woman’s baby disappears and it is the teenager who finds the dead body.

The film is particularly well acted with Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell as the estranged couple, Michael Angarano as the teenager. There is a strong supporting cast.

The film was made in Nova Scotia, capturing the atmosphere of small-town life.

The film was directed by David Gordon Green, the director of such independent films as George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow – and then, surprisingly, the Slacker comedy, Pineapple Express.

1. A grim film, drama, tragedy? Elements of hope?

2. The title and the references?

3. The picture of small-town life, the focus on families and homes, the focus on schools, the diners, warehouses? Realism, the countryside? The musical score?

4. The two stories and their interconnections, Arthur being the focus, his own story, the story with Annie? The parallel narrative? The finding of the baby?

5. The structure, the opening with the band, school, rehearsal, Arthur and his place, the teacher and his plea – and hearing the shots? Coming back to this episode with the knowledge of the characters and what had happened?

6. Arthur’s story, his age, a good young man, at school, his friends, chatter? His friendship with Lyla? Her being a pleasant girl? Their talk, the camera, company, the bond between them? In the band? Arthur’s mother, home, relationships? His father and problems? Listening? The meeting with the girl, challenging his father, at the end?

7. The character of Annie, Annie at work, the diner, Annie and Barb and their friendship, the owner of the diner, life at the café, Annie’s memories? Lifts, talk, the crisis because of the relationship between Annie and Nate, Barb and her reaction, the crisis? Tara?

8. Annie and Glenn and their relationship, memories of schooldays, marrying, pregnancy and the baby, his drinking, unreliable? Their separation? Tara and anger? Her mother, meeting Glenn, their discussions, the dinner? His outings? Nate and the affair, the tension with Barb? Illness, Tara, the search? Death and its effect?

9. Glenn and his home life, his parents and their concern, his ability and inability to have jobs, the support of Rafe? Stalking Annie, the outings, the photographs? Playing with the baby? His visits, the vicious fight with Nate? His grief, the consequences? His smouldering anger, going to Annie, confronting her, the gun, his ritual, taking her out in the snow, getting her ready for death? The shots?

10. The baby, its age, mother, father, the baby going out, wandering? Annie and her concern? Glenn and his anger? The effect of the baby wandering out in the snow for the audience, understanding Glenn, understanding Annie?

11. The mother and father, going out, the teacher, the girl, the confrontation, the dish and the end?

12. Lyla, her life, relationship with Arthur, sexual relationship?

13. Arthur going to the band, his future, after what he had experienced with the story of Annie and Glenn? His own family and parents?