The Girl in the Snow L'Engloutie

Synopsis

In a remote hamlet nestled in the Alps at the turn of the 20th century, idealistic schoolteacher Aimée arrives determined to educate her promising charges and rid the community of its superstitious beliefs. Met with wariness by the village elders, Aimée perseveres, doing her best to adapt to local life and briefly finding a sense of connection with two young men. A single night of passion coincides with portents of doom, and soon, unexplained disappearances hint at further calamity.

Winner of the Prix Jean Vigo Prize, given to an emerging French filmmaker whose work  demonstrates a spirit of innovation, Louise Hémon brings her documentarian’s eye to this unpredictable period drama, crafting a slow-burn tale rich in atmosphere. Sequences illuminated only by candles, lanterns, or fires punctuate the darkness that blankets the village, while a percussive score featuring both violin and vocal arrangements amplifies a sense of dread as The Girl in the Snow rushes toward its chilling conclusion.