BLANC COMME NEIGE (WHITE AS SNOW)

France, 2010, 100 minutes. Colour.
Francois Cluzet, Olivier Gourmet, Jonathan Zaccai.
Directed by Christophe Blanc.

White Snow is a French- Finnish co-production, which means that the story takes place in both countries.

The film is a thriller. It begins with the hero, Maxime, played by Francois Cluzet (Little White Lies, Tell No-One) lying in the snow with a bullet in his stomach. He remembers his past. It is the story of a wheeler-dealing car salesman who has made it big time and has everything he desires. His two brothers, however, are caught up in petty crime, even spending time in jail.

Maxime’s life is spoilt when his partner is killed and it is revealed that he has been in shady dealings with the Finnish Mafia. They want their money back and pursue Maxime as well as his family. Maxime gets his two brothers involved, but without much success. There are various confrontations, people being wounded, one of the Finnish thugs being taken, his getting out and pursuing the brothers. Eventually, the climax is reached in Finland.

It is said that the screenwriters had the Book of Job in mind when they wrote their story, a man having everything and being deprived of it – but there the similarity seems to end.

The film is interesting as a French thriller, with a strong cast.

1. The impact of the film? Interest in the characters, the plot? Complications?

2. The French settings, the city, affluent homes, poorer neighbourhoods? The contrast with Finland, the winter and the snow? The musical score?

3. The title? The Finnish setting? Snow, white and purity – and Maxime and his life, dying in the snow?

4. The opening, Maxime shot, his flashbacks? Arrival at the same scene at the end of the film, his escaping, recovery? A more humble way of life after this experience, collaborating with his brothers?

5. Maxime’s character, vain, his work, sales? His house, clothes, office, staff? His wife, their child? Having everything? Boasting? His relationship with his brothers, looking down on them? Giving them money for their mother’s birthday present (and their pocketing most of it)? His relationship with his partner?

6. The partner, his deals with the Mafia? Their presence at socials? Threatening? Maxime oblivious? The partner, the confrontation, his death?

7. The characters of the Mafia, sinister, thugs? Their violence? The approaches to Maxime, their demands? His bewilderment?

8. Gregoire and Abel? Their lives, in comparison with Maxime? Their failures, prison sentences? The bonds between them despite everything? Maxime relying on them? Their following the thugs, their being caught, the violence, their being wounded? Their persistence?

9. Michele, her relationship with Maxime? The child? Her liking the good life? Her fears, protecting her child? Leaving? The encounter with the thug in the kennels? His being freed?

10. The build-up to the climax, Finland, the confrontations, the bosses? The thug who was shot, imprisoning him in the kennels, his escape?

11. The climax, the confrontation? Maxime and his surviving?

12. A French atmosphere, the city, the showrooms, the kennels, the homes, social events? The contrast with the world of crime?