if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

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.

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.

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.

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.