Miffed in a simple childhood squabble, Lucien releases his pain through that ageless game of "tease the little kid"-- only this tease, like so many others, results in serious hurt to Dani, the "little kid". What follows is a unique portrayal of healing. The viewer is constantly called to wonder just what hurt is being healed: Dani's limp? Lucien's broken spirit? an old father's family or Marie's unforgiving attitude? With an heroic climax aided by providential intervention, the cold snowy heart is melted; a believable finale plays, well orchestrated, through he lives of all involved; children and adults come to grips with the power of divine forgiveness... Good drama, excellent theme, marvelous setting and natural scenery make this one highly recommended.
10 Reviews
The St. John story carries it
ksneath11 June 2008
Having read this book as a kid and never having seen the movie, I recently rented this with high expectations for a wholesome family film with beautiful characters and scenery.
After seeing the film, I find it rather difficult to judge. It begs a balancing of the good and the bad.
THE GOOD: The on-location scenery-- Beautiful shots of true Alpine mountains.
The acting by the children, while not perfect, is above average. The kids act as kids would, not like Hollywood fantasy "little grown ups".
The faithfulness to the story's main elements is commendable. The film also gets better near the end which helps save it somewhat.
THE BAD: The terrible, distracting, synthesized music. A score should seamlessly blend with a film and add to the mood, whatever that may be. This film would be better suited without a soundtrack at all! The music is often intrusive, conveys moods opposite those of the story, and is terribly synthetic -- not the type of music you want for a traditional religious story that takes place in the majestic beauty of the Alps!
The small families up in the Alps all seem to be living in gigantic, expansive, lodge-like cabins! This really cut the realism of the story for me and took away from the intimate setting of the circumstances.
The acting, script, and character development of the elders in the film, especially the woodcarver and the grandmother is lacking.
VERDICT: The thing that really holds this movie together is the underlying story by Patricia St. John. It is a powerful one with valuable lessons to children -- and adults as well. Without it, this film wouldn't have been watchable. With it, it holds interest despite numerous shortcomings. I give it a 7 out of 10 because of the unusual, powerful lessons it offers. Without the excellent basis from St. John, this could easily be a 4.
After seeing the film, I find it rather difficult to judge. It begs a balancing of the good and the bad.
THE GOOD: The on-location scenery-- Beautiful shots of true Alpine mountains.
The acting by the children, while not perfect, is above average. The kids act as kids would, not like Hollywood fantasy "little grown ups".
The faithfulness to the story's main elements is commendable. The film also gets better near the end which helps save it somewhat.
THE BAD: The terrible, distracting, synthesized music. A score should seamlessly blend with a film and add to the mood, whatever that may be. This film would be better suited without a soundtrack at all! The music is often intrusive, conveys moods opposite those of the story, and is terribly synthetic -- not the type of music you want for a traditional religious story that takes place in the majestic beauty of the Alps!
The small families up in the Alps all seem to be living in gigantic, expansive, lodge-like cabins! This really cut the realism of the story for me and took away from the intimate setting of the circumstances.
The acting, script, and character development of the elders in the film, especially the woodcarver and the grandmother is lacking.
VERDICT: The thing that really holds this movie together is the underlying story by Patricia St. John. It is a powerful one with valuable lessons to children -- and adults as well. Without it, this film wouldn't have been watchable. With it, it holds interest despite numerous shortcomings. I give it a 7 out of 10 because of the unusual, powerful lessons it offers. Without the excellent basis from St. John, this could easily be a 4.
Great moral for most people, particularly children and youngsters
marcin_kukuczka26 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
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!
Treasures of the Snow
loveteachin22 November 2006
A beautiful movie for all ages! Treasures of the Snow explores the depth of emotions when tragedy strikes. This is the best portrayal of forgiveness I've ever seen. The movie depicts the reality of life in the Swiss Alps and the mountains seem to push the plot to its climax. Bravo! When Lucien is cast out by every part of his society, his withdrawal leads him to a recluse who offers him not only acceptance but hope for a future. Annette, whose inclination toward anger, is challenged by her desire for revenge and her sense of righteousness. This was often used in a fifth grade classroom as a discussion starter on relationships. The acting by the children is natural and sincere and draws you into their world.
Old Fashioned Family Film on Forgiveness Shines
drpakmanrains13 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I first saw this film in 1983 on HBO, at age 42, and really loved everything about it: The scenery, the two leading child actors, the score, (which contrary to another reviewer, was beautiful), and the climax. I am not at all religious, and the story is very much Christian, but while I may not believe in dogma, the messages of this story, mainly forgiveness, are very well presented and very powerful and moving. As I have worked with struggling students my entire teaching career in the private sector, I have shown this film to many of my students, as well as friends and relatives and it is one of my 25 favorites of all time, out of about 2500 films seen, some scores of times, like this one. I have also now read the book, both the full paperback, as well as the picture book, and seen the full original Christian Film version with about 10 added minutes, but I prefer the HBO version most, because it is less preachy, and moves along faster, eliminating some unnecessary scenes and shortening others.
The story is divided into two parts, the tragedy and resulting anger and attempts at revenge, and then the forgiving and making up and ultimately reversing the tragic consequences.
To summarize the set-up, Lucien, who appears to be about 11, is humiliated by a slap from Annette, a classmate, over an argument in front of her little brother, Dani, who then laughs at him. Lucien can't get at her, so he decides to tease little Dani by threatening to throw his little kitten off a cliff. But when he holds the cat over the edge, Dani pinches him and he accidentally lets go and the kitten falls into a bush about 6 feet down. Dani instinctively goes down the cliff after the kitten, but loses his footing and falls about 50 feet. Hearing no sound from Dani, Lucien assumes he is dead. But rather than running to get help, he decides to not say anything and hides out near his house. Later, when Annette and her father and Grandmother realize Dani is missing, they begin searching and eventually find Lucien, who guiltily leads them to the cliff. It turns out Dani has suffered a severely broken leg but is not dead. Annette then goes on a vendetta to punish Lucien, and when it is determined the injury is likely permanent, she becomes obsessed with punishing him, at home, in school, everywhere. Meanwhile, Lucien has been befriended by an old mountain man who sells carvings in Geneva and who confides to Lucien that he once stole money from a bank he worked at and went to jail, destroying his wife and losing his family. Lucien has a talent for carving, and the school has an arts and crafts contest which Lucien would like to win to "show them". After Lucien carves a beautiful set of animals to give to Dani, Annette damages them. Her anger has made her worse than the person she is punishing.
Then Annette injures herself in the snow, and Lucien helps her to get home, and the forgiveness begins. This leads to a beautiful climax and demonstrates that anger rarely accomplishes what atonement and cooperation can.
The film is done in an old-fashioned style, and is supposed to take place around 1950, so today's audiences may find the film too slow and wholesome. The longer version can be purchased through Christian Books or Amazon. I don't know if the HBO version can be found anymore. The film's style is like "Hugo", which tended to appeal to very mature or academically advanced children, rather than the average kids who want action and excitement or animated features. But it's message is an important one, and if you can find a copy of the HBO version, I think it is a wonderful and worthwhile film to see, even repeatedly. Hopefully you will too. My rating: HBO version 10; Original version 8.
The story is divided into two parts, the tragedy and resulting anger and attempts at revenge, and then the forgiving and making up and ultimately reversing the tragic consequences.
To summarize the set-up, Lucien, who appears to be about 11, is humiliated by a slap from Annette, a classmate, over an argument in front of her little brother, Dani, who then laughs at him. Lucien can't get at her, so he decides to tease little Dani by threatening to throw his little kitten off a cliff. But when he holds the cat over the edge, Dani pinches him and he accidentally lets go and the kitten falls into a bush about 6 feet down. Dani instinctively goes down the cliff after the kitten, but loses his footing and falls about 50 feet. Hearing no sound from Dani, Lucien assumes he is dead. But rather than running to get help, he decides to not say anything and hides out near his house. Later, when Annette and her father and Grandmother realize Dani is missing, they begin searching and eventually find Lucien, who guiltily leads them to the cliff. It turns out Dani has suffered a severely broken leg but is not dead. Annette then goes on a vendetta to punish Lucien, and when it is determined the injury is likely permanent, she becomes obsessed with punishing him, at home, in school, everywhere. Meanwhile, Lucien has been befriended by an old mountain man who sells carvings in Geneva and who confides to Lucien that he once stole money from a bank he worked at and went to jail, destroying his wife and losing his family. Lucien has a talent for carving, and the school has an arts and crafts contest which Lucien would like to win to "show them". After Lucien carves a beautiful set of animals to give to Dani, Annette damages them. Her anger has made her worse than the person she is punishing.
Then Annette injures herself in the snow, and Lucien helps her to get home, and the forgiveness begins. This leads to a beautiful climax and demonstrates that anger rarely accomplishes what atonement and cooperation can.
The film is done in an old-fashioned style, and is supposed to take place around 1950, so today's audiences may find the film too slow and wholesome. The longer version can be purchased through Christian Books or Amazon. I don't know if the HBO version can be found anymore. The film's style is like "Hugo", which tended to appeal to very mature or academically advanced children, rather than the average kids who want action and excitement or animated features. But it's message is an important one, and if you can find a copy of the HBO version, I think it is a wonderful and worthwhile film to see, even repeatedly. Hopefully you will too. My rating: HBO version 10; Original version 8.
Almost like an amateur home movie made by school kids
rabbitmoon18 January 2012
I watched this at school when I was 9, and remember it being "amazing".
So 24 years later, I track it down with the following memories: a) it might feature the word snow in the title, b) a boy looks down a train track and says "it's your fault. It's all your fault". c) said boy accidentally kills someone, and then carves wooden animals from his guilt/shame outcast life.
I managed to track it down, and watch the last nostalgic relic from my childhood. Did it live up to my expectations?
No! Whilst watchable for nostalgia's sake, there are many disturbing things about this film. The soundtrack is completely inappropriate. The acting is dreadful - the girl can even be seen laughing in the corner of one shot whilst her grandma tells her something "important". A man scales a cliff-face to find his son twisted up and looking dead at the bottom - to which he says "Danny, Danny are you OK?" in a light-hearted voice.
Far worse though, is that any moral goodness in the religious story is completely swamped and buried under bizarre contrived acts. We're expected to believe that its good that a boy ditches school and shacks up with an old man, a stranger, who confesses to be a criminal. When the boy suggests leaving, the man persuades him to stay, being his "only friend". What kind of message is this sending out to children? Other contrivances send the story into sentimental overload, so much so that the main point of the morality seemed to unravel in favour of "feel good" factor.
I don't even know if I would show this to children now. In hindsight, I found it strange watching it as a child. You're asked to root for the guilty kid, and this made me feel a confused sense of guilt, shame and sadness as well for absolutely no reason.
So 24 years later, I track it down with the following memories: a) it might feature the word snow in the title, b) a boy looks down a train track and says "it's your fault. It's all your fault". c) said boy accidentally kills someone, and then carves wooden animals from his guilt/shame outcast life.
I managed to track it down, and watch the last nostalgic relic from my childhood. Did it live up to my expectations?
No! Whilst watchable for nostalgia's sake, there are many disturbing things about this film. The soundtrack is completely inappropriate. The acting is dreadful - the girl can even be seen laughing in the corner of one shot whilst her grandma tells her something "important". A man scales a cliff-face to find his son twisted up and looking dead at the bottom - to which he says "Danny, Danny are you OK?" in a light-hearted voice.
Far worse though, is that any moral goodness in the religious story is completely swamped and buried under bizarre contrived acts. We're expected to believe that its good that a boy ditches school and shacks up with an old man, a stranger, who confesses to be a criminal. When the boy suggests leaving, the man persuades him to stay, being his "only friend". What kind of message is this sending out to children? Other contrivances send the story into sentimental overload, so much so that the main point of the morality seemed to unravel in favour of "feel good" factor.
I don't even know if I would show this to children now. In hindsight, I found it strange watching it as a child. You're asked to root for the guilty kid, and this made me feel a confused sense of guilt, shame and sadness as well for absolutely no reason.
Wonderful Film - Disregard Critics.
Lionel_Twain14 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I have never read the book, but I have watched this film several times. It is a wonderful story about a young boy who makes a poor decision that affects another young boy and his family in a big way. It contains valuable Christian messages of the importance of forgiveness, honesty and redemption.
I am not sure which film user "ksneath" watched, but there is no synthesized music whatsoever in this film. Perhaps they confused the sound of a bass guitar and simple drums with a synthesizer. They could have chosen a better score, but I did not find the music distracting any more than other late 70's early 80's scores. However, ksneath suggests that the film would have been better with no soundtrack at all, and I would agree.
User "rabbitmoon" does not seem to be able to recognize that this story was written in a different time. Even as late as the film was created, in 1980, the times were still different. I was seven years old in 1980 and the interaction between the young boy and the old wood carver were accurate depictions of similar relationships that I had with elders near me.
Rabbitmoon takes umbrage with the fact that the old man confessed to having robbed a bank many years ago. What the user seems to miss is the fact that the old man confesses his crime to the boy in order to teach him a lesson about right, wrong, restitution and redemption. This is a Christian film and such themes are the heart of the Gospel; forgiveness and salvation for sinners (i.e. people who have made very bad decisions). Moses was a murderer as was Paul (Saul), the hunter of Christians before his conversion.
There were two old men in my neighborhood that I spent a great deal of time with. They both taught me things about working with wood and I had spent much time in their basement shops or back yards; even going to lumberyards with them. I knew one by his last name and I didn't know the other man's name and my parents never met either of them, but they knew that I was spending time with them. I was seven or eight years old when I met those men.
The old man in the film was a mentor and friend to the boy and their interactions were completely appropriate. It can only be interpreted otherwise by younger people who have no memories of those more innocent times.
I am not sure which film user "ksneath" watched, but there is no synthesized music whatsoever in this film. Perhaps they confused the sound of a bass guitar and simple drums with a synthesizer. They could have chosen a better score, but I did not find the music distracting any more than other late 70's early 80's scores. However, ksneath suggests that the film would have been better with no soundtrack at all, and I would agree.
User "rabbitmoon" does not seem to be able to recognize that this story was written in a different time. Even as late as the film was created, in 1980, the times were still different. I was seven years old in 1980 and the interaction between the young boy and the old wood carver were accurate depictions of similar relationships that I had with elders near me.
Rabbitmoon takes umbrage with the fact that the old man confessed to having robbed a bank many years ago. What the user seems to miss is the fact that the old man confesses his crime to the boy in order to teach him a lesson about right, wrong, restitution and redemption. This is a Christian film and such themes are the heart of the Gospel; forgiveness and salvation for sinners (i.e. people who have made very bad decisions). Moses was a murderer as was Paul (Saul), the hunter of Christians before his conversion.
There were two old men in my neighborhood that I spent a great deal of time with. They both taught me things about working with wood and I had spent much time in their basement shops or back yards; even going to lumberyards with them. I knew one by his last name and I didn't know the other man's name and my parents never met either of them, but they knew that I was spending time with them. I was seven or eight years old when I met those men.
The old man in the film was a mentor and friend to the boy and their interactions were completely appropriate. It can only be interpreted otherwise by younger people who have no memories of those more innocent times.
never as good as the book...
flutter_by_20038 January 2006
those of you who watch this film and dismiss it because its 25 years old, has irritating music and isn't up to our 21st century film standards, i urge you to read the book. Treasures of the snow is a beautiful book, one of my favourite childhood memories was my mother reading it to me. It's an all ages classic, don't let your experience be spoiled by the outdated movie! The book is by Patricia St. John, a Christian author, I read all her books as a kid. Even if you didn't like the movie, still read the book! I found the movie pretty disappointing, even though it did follow the story quite well, but you can probably get the book on ebay for a few dollars, and it's worth it!
Refreshing
ilcooney9 May 2021
A bit overlong and talky
Leofwine_draca25 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
TREASURES OF THE SNOW is a long-forgotten independent family film, made in Britain and shot in Switzerland. The story is about a put-upon kid who accidentally causes a near-fatal accident and subsequently finds himself ostracised from society as a result. He eventually is forgiven after undergoing a journey of understanding and friendship. This is very much a morality play with Christian undertones and a lot of innocent talk and character development that may feel a bit twee to the cynical mindset of a modern viewer. It's okay, but a bit overlong and a bit talky.
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