Red Snow Parent Guide

Dylan Nadazeau (Asivak Koostachin) is a Gwinch’in member of the Canadian Armed Forces, on deployment in Afghanistan. When his unit is betrayed and ambushed by the Taliban, Dylan is accused of being a spy - the Taliban fighters think the Gwich’in writing in his notebook is a secret code. Kept in confinement, Dylan finds himself dwelling on his upbringing in the Northwest Territories.

Though brief and straightforward, Red Snow is a movie that forces us to think. There is no avoiding the questions about Canada’s treatment of Aboriginal peoples, the justifications for military interventions on foreign soil, and our attitudes towards mental illness. While this makes for very worthwhile watching, it also makes for a somewhat difficult experience, which I would argue is a good thing. While I definitely love a good popcorn movie, I believe it’s important to consume media that poses serious questions.

The acting is phenomenal, especially since none of the cast play to easy stereotypes which are so common in war movies. Not that the actors make the Taliban sympathetic (which would take some doing), but they remind us that, like any terrorist organization, it is composed of individuals with varied personalities. Some are more relatable than others, even if they are equally involved in terrorism.

Especially engaging is Aman, played by Shafin Karim, the unfortunate schoolteacher compelled to act as an army translator to save his family. Aman’s interactions with Dylan are particularly valuable in the storyline, as they bring different aspects of Dylan’s character into sharper relief.

Red Snow is not rated by the MPAA, but its dozen-plus sexual expletives will certainly earn it a Restricted rating. That said, other content concerns are minimal. The violence is some of the mildest I’ve seen in a modern war movie, and there is no depiction of sex, drugs, or alcohol. It’s not often you find a film this rewarding with so few content concerns.

It’s a shame Red Snow seems to be stuck on the Film Festival circuit with no broad release as yet. It’s a touching story, well written and well acted, with profound questions inherent in the plot, setting, and characters. It is also charmingly unpretentious, avoiding the tedious self-importance that can plague thoughtful films. This would be an excellent film for high-school aged students, either recreationally or in a classroom environment. It’s hard to get better education out of a movie in just an hour and a half.