Christmas can be the most magical time of year. Full of tradition and warmth, it can often be a time for reflection, too. And, if you’re dealing with grief or loss in any way, memories of Christmas past may bubble to the surface. If everyone else in the world is happy and celebrating, it can feel particularly isolating.
And it’s this grief that permeates Netflix’s new family drama, The Snow Sister (Snøsøsteren). Based on Maja Lunde and Lisa Aisato’s childrens book of the same name, the film centres around Julian (Mudit Gupta), who is due to turn eleven on Christmas Eve. But, instead of a festive countdown, his family is enveloped in sadness, owing to the death of his big sister, Juni. A chance encounter with Hedvig (Celina Meyer Hovland), who seems to be Christmas personified, leads Julian down an emotional path of rediscovering joy and togetherness.
Directed by Cecilie A. Mosli, the film will certainly get you in the Christmas spirit, despite the heavy subject matter. Houses in shades of sage green, denim blues and lemondrop yellows are peppered in amongst the ankle-high snow. The town square is a visual feast of twinkling fairy lights and inviting shop windows. Hedvig’s sugary diet would make Buddy the Elf jealous, and she shares her baked goods and festive treats with Julian in a bid to help him rediscover the magic of the season. Her home – called the Winter’s Nest – could easily be mistaken for Santa’s workshop. It’s full of flickering candles, red velvet ribbons, tinkling trinkets and a tree laden with decorations. The open fire and exclusively red, green and gold colour palette instantly warm you. (This is in stark contrast to Julian’s home – devoid of decorations and awash with cold greys and blues.)
Mudit Gupta and Celina Meyer Hovland certainly make for engaging leads. Julian’s innocence and reticent smiles belie a need to feel a resurgence of love in his life. Hevig’s initial precociousness may seem a little over earnest, but it’s exactly the encouragement that Julian needs. Her rampant enthusiasm is a neat contrast to Julian’s evident pain. More than this, exploring the themes of grief through the eyes of young children leads to more honest conversations. Children can speak of loss in a way that is less euphemistic than their adult counterparts and, throughout this kind of dialogue, both Gupta and Hovland convey a maturity and sensitivity beyond their years.
What the film absolutely gets right is the way in which grief can break down a family unit, since everyone deals with loss in a different way. Julian’s younger sister, Augusta (Bal Advika) talks about their older sibling as if she is expecting her back in the house at any given minute. She cannot understand why Christmas is cancelled. His parents regularly weep – their grief still raw and on the surface – whilst struggling to explain their feelings. They are noticeable by their absence in Julian’s life. His school friend John (Ole Steinkjer Øyen) constantly talks to him about the weather because he clearly does not know what else is appropriate to say. Julian also crosses paths with Henrik (Jan Sælid), a Christmas card maker who deals with the loss of his own sister by recreating her through his artwork. It’s a very realistic representation of what life is like after such a tragic loss.
The Snow Sister is straightforward in terms of visuals and plot beats. The twists are relatively predictable but, nonetheless, emotionally impactful. Thematically, there is enough going on for both younger and older viewers, making it a good watch for all the family. There’s also enough classic Scandi Christmas visuals to keep things from being too morose. For Julian, there is a joy in remembering – it’s not a burden or painful. It is heartbreaking and poignant but also strangely uplifting. The ending, in particular, will make you want to weep with both joy and sadness.
The Snow Sister (Snøsøsteren) is screening on Netflix as of November 29.