SNOW WHITE

Switzerland, 2005, 113 minutes, Colour.
Julie Fournier, Carlos Leal.
Directed by Samir.

Snow White was directed by Samir, a Baghdad-born director who moved at the age of six to Switzerland and has worked in film and television. He co-wrote the script.

Snow White is a contemporary allegory on the Snow White story except that it is set in contemporary Zurich, in the world of the upper class. This is the world of the nouveau riche, partying, involved in sex and drugs. The focus is on a young woman, Nico, the Snow White character. The irony of her Prince Charming is Paco, a front man with a band. The film shows the on-and-off relationships, the tensions, the love, the violence. The film is particularly interesting for a European audience with its focus on the style of life at the beginning of the 21st century. Worldwide audiences might find it a bit esoteric and ultra-exotic.

1. A Swiss story? A fairy tale? In contemporary guise? The blend of fairy tale and realism?

2. A version of Snow White, ironies, applications of the characters and themes of the fable?

3. The Zurich setting, its environment, good and bad, rich and middle class? The contrast with Geneva and poverty and Paco’s world? Paris?

4. The musical score, the rap songs, the lyrics? The lyrics relating to themes, to Paco’s rebellion? His attack on his audiences?

5. The style of the film, the opening with the therapy session with Nico? The realism of the characters and their situations? The devices of characters talking to the audience, split screens, dates and places, explanations of characters and their backgrounds, the film confiding in the audience?

6. Paco and his story, his parents migrating from Spain, their memories of Spain, Spanish language, his mother, his sick father, his father’s disapproval of his musical career, his brother, the drug taking, the memories of his brother in jail and his continued drug taking, his presence in his dreams? His attitude towards drugs? His voice-over, his commentary on the day that changed his life? The band, his playing with them, his comments on their characters, their need for him, his need for the band, changing his attitude, wanting to leave? Playing in the club, the challenge to Boris, defying him, the free drinks, the smashing of the bar? Nico and his noticing her, the interactions with him, her clash? The effect? The shoot for the video, his wanting the neighbourhood, the rich house, the director on cocaine? Nico taking him to a tour of Zurich, the bond between them, falling in love, the sexual liaison? Her taking him to Wanda’s parents as her own, his acceptance of them? His travels, the phone calls, communication, the meetings? His clash with the group, with Greg, the manager, the contract, the concerts?

7. Nico and her story, as Snow White? Her distant mother, her living in her house by herself, not accepting her divorce? Her being lost, coming to the twenty-first birthday party? Nico’s father, his absence, business, calling her about the phone bills, upset about the stolen car, changing the locks of the house, ousting her? Her birthday party, her life and lifestyle, drugs? Boris calling her Snow White? Her relationship with him, going to the club, the supply of drugs, Bobby as the dealer – and later demanding the money, his physical brutality? Her friendship with Wanda, talking with her, covering for her lifestyle? Wanda helping her? Her attraction towards Wanda, her reliance on Wanda’s parents? Meeting Paco, her hopes, Paco’s absences, her decision to go clean?

8. Wanda, her life, her poorer parents, her euphemism about sponsors, her being set up in her own place? Her parents, helping Nico? Nico sharing her lifestyle, sharing her apartment, the dates, the sex experiences, Wanda and the pathos of her death, Nico’s grief, going to the funeral, talking with Wanda’s parents and their disillusionment with her?

9. The fashion show and Nico walking out, happy with Paco, her telling him the truth about her life and his anger? Her attack on his self-centred righteousness?

10. The photographer as the witch of the fable, her proposal, wanting Nico to risk and go further? No scenes of the photo shoot? The exhibition, degrading Nico? Paco’s reaction?

11. Nico and her desire to be an actress, the rehearsals, her potential? Her coming late, drugs, the director firing her? Paco going to the play, the flowers, her not being there, his bewilderment and asking her?

12. The world of drugs, the need for money, her owing thirty thousand francs, Wanda paying it off? Her going with Wanda, the experience with the bankers, sex, drugs, physical attack? Wanda’s death, her phoning the police, hiding?

13. Going to Boris, asking for Paco’s phone number, the last chance, to go to the concert, the drugs in her bag, being held up at the airport, too late to go to Paris?

14. Her being ousted from her mother’s house, her father’s house? The gun, her having shot at the door? Her decision to shoot herself? Her surviving, the clinic, the therapy sessions?

15. The romantic ending, Paco as Prince Charming, his coming over the hill? Her watching him – and suddenly hurling herself out the window? His caring for her, her surviving?

16. Nico and her going into the depths of despair, the possibilities of redemption – through personal love?