Sundance Kids: SNOWTIME 3D
by Karen Pecota

Under the direction of  filmmakers Jean-François  Pouliot  and François Brisson SNOWTIME, an animated family film, is brought  to the silver screen. In collaboration with screenwriters Normand  Canac-Marquis  and Roger Cantin they use this format to remake the narrative of a live-action  1984 film The Dog Who Stopped the War (La Guerre des tuques).  In addition, the film is pleased to present a  delightful soundtrack that includes the recording of  "L'hymne" by Celine Dion.

Proven to be a clever  remake the film was Canada's highest-grossing film at the box office during  2015 winning the Cineplex Golden Screen Award given by the Academy of Canadian  Cinema & Television.

Producer Marie-Claude Beauchamp says that the film addresses three major  themes: war, loss and friendship. Two of the film characters experience a great  loss. The role of Piers (Ross Lynch) is the owner of a big lovable St. Bernard  named Cleo (the dog who stops the war). The loss he experiences is shared by  all of the village kids. The message is impactful. Beauchamp adds, "It's  necessary to overcome the loss of someone dear to you. These are terrible and  sad events but they are part of life.  We  show the audience that as sad as these events are, you grieve and you go on.”

Synopsis:

It's  winter break for the school children in a small mountain village. The  grade-schoolers are ready to have some fun in their free time. Two sisters and  their family move to the village during the school break and long to meet their  schoolmates. They are looking for camaraderie and friendship before school  starts. One day while sledding in the snow, the two get caught in the middle of  their school mates badgering and joking around with each other. The intended  playful actions is the start of a big intense snowball fight. Luke (Nicholas  Savard-L'Herbier / Angela Galuppo) and Sophie (Mariloup Wolfe / Lucinda Davis)  become the team leaders of the opposite sides. One thing leads to another and a  fun day in the snow turns into an escalation of grievances.

The  animosity is so bad that the children can't just simply let  by-gones-be-by-gones. They are 11-year-olds with lots of energy, creativity and  attitude. They devise a rather mature plan to settle their disputes. The  proposal is to build a snow fort and wage a war to capture it. At the end of  the winter break, the team who occupies the fort wins the war. All agree!

Two  weeks is a long time to be at odds with each other. Kids don't hold grudges  well or for very long because they simply like to play. And, want to play with  each other. Though mature in their idea to create and end childhood squabbles  amicably the lessons learned from their so called war will forever be a  deciding factor of their maturity. Actions of war have consequences. The  consequences the village kids are left to deal with are heavy life-altering  issues--most impressionable.*

*Parents  need to be ready to have conversations with your children on death and dying,  grieving a loss and the effects of war. You know you own child's emotional  capability. The mature material is not suitable for the very young child.