Black Snow

First of all, you will need to get over the fact that the lead couple look more like father and son than husband and wife. No chemistry at all between them, but that's really not a huge hurdle because this is not a romance. The story held promise, but eventually it became clear the writers really had no idea how to progress the plot in a believable manner. You will roll your eyes, and you will be disappointed. One part was just so ridiculous I had to watch it several times to make sure it actually happened. All revolves around a dark family secret that came about because of another dark family secret. It really should have worked, and in more capable hands it would have.

After the death of his father, Marcos (Leonardo Sbaraglia) and his young pregnant wife Laura (Laia Costa) travel from Spain to Argentina to see his estranged brother Salvador (Ricardo Darín) to discuss the inheritance left by their father. He visits his sister Sabrina (Dolores Fonzi), who is inmate of a psychiatric institute, and the old family friend Sepia (Federico Luppi), who tells Marco and Laura that a Canadian company offered nine million dollars per their land in Patagonia, where Salvador lives alone in a cabin as a hermit. Marcos also receives his father's ashes with the request to be buried with his son Juan. Salvador is accused of murdering his brother Juan in a family hunting many years ago when they were adolescents and then he was scorned and abused by his father along his life. Marcos and Laura are not welcomed by Salvador, and she learns that the Canadians have offered eleven million dollars to the brothers. However, Salvador is not interested in selling the lands and asks them to leave his house. Marcos and Laura are surprised by a storm and Marcos crashes his car in a snowbank, and Laura decides to return to Salvador's house where a tragedy happens, and dark family secrets are disclosed.

"Nieve Negra", a.k.a. "Black Snow" (2017), is a disappointing Argentinian-Spanish movie about dark family secrets. The storyline is not bad, but there are points that destroy the film. The non-linear screenplay does not work and is annoying, and the slow pace makes some parts boring. The characters are awful, and Marcos (47 years old in 2017) looks like the father of Laura (32 years old in 2017). When the dark secrets are disclosed in the end and the viewer learns what happened to Juan, the plot improves. But Laura, with her expressionless face, hides them and the viewer will certainly question whether she is a greedy woman that forced the incident to have 11 million dollars. The cinematography is very beautiful but the open end destroys the plot. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Neve Negra" ("Black Snow")

Black Snow smoulders with unspoken feelings and undiscovered plot. The lead characters ooze broodiness and secrets, as does the whole situation the characters find themselves in. If you like noir films then Nieva Negra is well worth exploring. There's fine acting from the three leading actors. Wear a hat and jumper though; the realism and suspension of disbelief will have you shivering in those snowy mountians.

I am aware the words "family drama" are not the most appealing in the world. Let´s face it, too many times they´re just... boring. I hate to use that word to put down films but in it´s often justified. Sometimes I run across films like this one and it´s such a nice feeling.

This is a great drama. It has an awesome use of flashbacks, a satisfying sense of place and pace, the plot unfolds patiently, not dreadfully, it renews the trite characterization of Ricardo Darín and puts the beautiful presence of Laia Costa to good use. It has mystery, surprises and just the right amount of social background. It´s a great film, totally recommended.

Black snow, or red snow, would be more appropriate, from the beginning we are sure that the sinister happened, and it's not like it was resumed, avalanche, accidents (?!?! I don't think so), a wonderful production, great script, gradually unraveling the mystery, through flashbacks, leaving us curious, captivating, the truncated relationship between the brothers, until, finally, the outcome, predictable (maybe), tragic, cold (like the blizzard climate), intelligent, sad, excellent latin production...