ksneath 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.

loveteachin 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.

little_miss_vixen those of you who watch this film and dismiss it because its 25 years old, has irritating music and isn't up to our 21st century film standards, i urge you to read the book. Treasures of the snow is a beautiful book, one of my favourite childhood memories was my mother reading it to me. It's an all ages classic, don't let your experience be spoiled by the outdated movie! The book is by Patricia St. John, a Christian author, I read all her books as a kid. Even if you didn't like the movie, still read the book! I found the movie pretty disappointing, even though it did follow the story quite well, but you can probably get the book on ebay for a few dollars, and it's worth it!

jeben Miffed in a simple childhood squabble, Lucien releases his pain through that ageless game of "tease the little kid"-- only this tease, like so many others, results in serious hurt to Dani, the "little kid". What follows is a unique portrayal of healing. The viewer is constantly called to wonder just what hurt is being healed: Dani's limp? Lucien's broken spirit? an old father's family or Marie's unforgiving attitude? With an heroic climax aided by providential intervention, the cold snowy heart is melted; a believable finale plays, well orchestrated, through he lives of all involved; children and adults come to grips with the power of divine forgiveness... Good drama, excellent theme, marvelous setting and natural scenery make this one highly recommended.