Set against the snowy backdrop of a small town that could be almost anywhere, Snow Angels—the new drama from writer/director David Gordon Green—explores the connections between three couples as they each face different stages of their relationships.

The first couple—Arthur and Lila—are students at the local high school. He plays trombone in the marching band; she likes to take photographs with an old camera her father gave her. They’ve just met and are learning about love for the first time. Arthur’s parents—Don and Louise—are at a rocky point in their marriage. They’ve separated, and Don is testing the dating waters while still trying to maintain some sort of relationship with Arthur. Glenn and Annie—the third couple—are facing a marriage which is long over, though Glenn is reluctant to move on. The connections between the couples are brought full circle by the fact that Annie once babysat Arthur, and now they work together at the local Chinese restaurant.

Snow Angels sets the stage without any delay. It’s fair to say that we know right away that bad things are in store for our characters. Then, after revealing where the movie is going to wind up, Green takes us back in time to follow the interconnected paths that wind their way to the climax we saw coming in the opening segments. It’s an interesting and compelling tale that balances the three storylines well.

Arthur and Lila typify innocent romance as they tenderly explore their feelings and begin that first dance of young love. To me their relationship represents the bright and shiny, idealized kind of storybook love that is often hoped for but seldom experienced.

Arthur’s parents, Don and Louise, represent a more realistic kind of love that is all too often reflected in our lives. It’s a love that has become complacent. The bloom is off the rose, so to speak, and they’re exploring whether or not they still have a life together. They’re on the brink of calling it quits for good but haven’t quite fallen over the edge yet. There’s still hope.

The most riveting and dramatic storyline, though, follows Glenn and Annie. Divorced and sharing custody of a young daughter, they demonstrate the dark side of love. Both of them are left damaged by their relationship. Annie is in an unhealthy relationship, and Glenn is obsessed with trying to get Annie back. Things start out cordial—if uncomfortable—and rapidly go downhill from there. Their relationship is really a runaway locomotive headed for the washed-out bridge. We can see the danger ahead, but we’re powerless to influence the outcome.

Given that Snow Angels is a character-driven film, solid casting is critical; fortunately Green assembled a stellar team to fulfill the task. Sam Rockwell has really come into his own in recent years, and continues to demonstrate his versatility as Glenn. Opposite Sam is Kate Beckinsale as Annie. Most audiences are going to see a different (perhaps previously unseen) side to her in this role, and in my opinion, it works well.

Young actors Michael Angarano and Olivia Thirlby bring to life Arthur and Lila. I enjoyed seeing them together on screen; they have a believable chemistry together. The roles of Don and Louise are more supporting characters, but still have key moments on screen; they’re played subtly and solidly by Griffin Dunne and Jeannetta Arnette. Also, watch for Amy Sedaris as Annie’s sarcastic friend Barb, who also plays an important role in the events of Snow Angels.

The most controversial aspect of Snow Angels is bound to be the emphasis placed on Glenn’s status as a “born again” Christian. The kneejerk reaction is to interpret this as an attack on Christianity. I think a closer look, though, reveals that this isn’t the case. Glenn is shown to be a deeply flawed human being, first and foremost. Regardless of his spiritual status, he’s got problems internally. One of the many manifestations of this is his ongoing struggle with alcohol. He’s grabbed on to religion as a life preserver, but he really hasn’t started applying the lessons yet. He’s still placing blame for his problems on others instead of accepting responsibility. Examined in that light, it’s hard to take issue with the example.

Bottom line: Snow Angels is a drama that pulls no punches. There are moments of levity, but overall the tone is fairly bleak. This is not a “feel good” movie, but it is a compelling journey through the struggles of love, life, and the interconnectedness of this small community of people. Personally, I found it riveting.

Snow Angels is rated R for “language, some violent content, brief sexuality and drug use.” The rating is accurate, but I wouldn’t call it gratuitous. This is a film that deals with mature themes and the rating and content reflect that.

Courtesy of a local publicist, Michael attended a promotional screening of Snow Angels.

Also see the interview that PtP Managing Editor Greg Wright conducted with director David Gordon Green.