Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Low-budget war drama has diversity, violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Red Snow
What's the Story?
RED SNOW follows a Gwich'in-Canadian soldier, Dylan (Asivak Koostachin), who is captured by the Taliban when fighting in Afghanistan. The movie takes us back through Dylan's past as he remembers his home community, and follows his and a local family's attempt to escape the Taliban.
Is It Any Good?
Writer-director Marie Clements deserves recognition for attempting to tell a bold story about the parallel lives of characters thrown together from different worlds. Unfortunately, there's not much in Red Snow that doesn't come across as heavy-handed and predictable, with characters relaying exposition-heavy dialogue to one another while the story creeps forward around them.
The movie's set pieces are effective. The audience is drawn into the all-too-real world of everyday conflict inside a war zone, trapped with characters that are scared for their lives, and act accordingly. What is surprising for a film from an accomplished playwright like Clements, is that it's the longer, more static scenes of lengthy dialogue where the movie drags the most. The constant, repetitive flashbacks also slow things down further. The final, disorientating climax injects some much-needed pace and urgency, before a rushed conclusion results in a quick, flat ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of war in Red Snow. How was it portrayed? Did it seem like a realistic portrayal? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.
Discuss the Gwich'in-Canadian characters. How much did you know about this First Nation people, their language, and their culture? Did you find it interesting? Would you like to learn more?
Talk about the parallels between Dylan's life and Aman's, including the divides within their families, their losses, and how they are treated by Western governments? What does this tell you about different people from different cultures?
Discuss the character of Khatira. What character strengths did she display? How did she defy how women were expected to behave under Taliban rule? Did you find her courage inspiring?
Talk about the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the story?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 16, 2021
- Cast : Asivak Koostachin , Shafin Karim , Mozhdah Jamalzadah
- Director : Marie Clements
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 15, 2021
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