''Black Snow'' ( es, Nieve negra, links=no) is a 2017 Argentine–Spanish thriller film directed by Martín Hodara (in his solo directorial debut) which stars

Ricardo Darín Ricardo Alberto Darín (born 16 January 1957) is an Argentine actor, film director and film producer, he is considered one of the best and most prolific actors of Argentine cinema. Considered one of the greatest and most acclaimed movie stars ...

Leonardo Sbaraglia Leonardo Máximo Sbaraglia (; born 30 June 1970) is an Argentine actor, with extensive credits in both Argentina and Spain. He has also worked in Mexico, and was cast in his first English-language role in '' Red Lights''. Biography Sbaraglia was ...

, and

Laia Costa Laia Costa Bertrán () (born February 18, 1985) is a Spanish actress who has worked in Spain, Russia, Germany, Argentina, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States. Life and career Costa was born in Barcelona, Spain. Costa obtained a degree ...

alongside

Federico Luppi Federico Luppi (; February 23, 1936 – October 20, 2017) was an Argentine-Spanish film, TV, radio and theatre actor. He won numerous awards throughout his acting career, including a Concha de Plata at the San Sebastian International Film Fest ...

and

Dolores Fonzi Dolores María Fonzi (born 19 July 1978) is an Argentine TV, theatre and film actress. Several of her films have received critical acclaim such as '' Burnt Money'', '' Waiting for the Messiah'', '' Bottom of the Sea'' and '' The Aura''. Her brot ...

Plot

The plot concerns about the return of Marcos (together with pregnant wife Laura) to his native Argentina, moving to a remote location in

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and g ...

to meet with brother Salvador (a presumed

fratricide Fratricide (, from the Latin words ' "brother" and the assimilated root of ' "to kill, to cut down") is the act of killing one's own brother. It can either be done directly or via the use of either a hired or an indoctrinated intermediary (a ...

perpetrator) to convince him to sell the lands they both inherited.

Cast

Production

The film is a Pampa Films, A Contracorriente Films, Gloriamundi Producciones, and Bowfinger International Pictures production. It was shot in between Spain (

La Seu d'Urgell La Seu d'Urgell (; es, Seo de Urgel, formerly in ca, Urgell}) is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of ...

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

, and Argentina (

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

Release

The film was theatrically released in Argentina on 19 January 2017 by

Buena Vista International Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. until 2007, is an American film distribution studio within the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. It h ...

. It was presented at the 20th

Málaga Film Festival The Málaga Film Festival, formerly Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FMCE), is an annual film festival held in Málaga, Spain. The festival was established to promote Spanish cinema and help disseminate information about Spanish films. Since 2017, i ...

on 18 March 2017. Distributed by A Contracorriente Films, it was theatrically released in Spain on 12 April 2017.

Reception

Alejandro Lingenti of ''

La Nación ''La Nación'' () is an Argentine daily newspaper. As the country's leading conservative newspaper, ''La Nación''s main competitor is the more liberal '' Clarín''. It is regarded as a newspaper of record for Argentina. Its motto is: "''La Na ...

'' rated ''Black Snow'' as "good", describing it as "a sour and pessimistic film" having its greatest strenghts in Darín's and Sbaraglia's performances. Jonathan Holland of ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...

'' pointed out that despite the early slow burn, "narrative confusion and implausibility strike over the final run", and it's "that wobbly final stretch that will linger in viewers' minds", underpinning a "less chilling experience than it presumably aims to be". Raquel Hernández Luján of ''

HobbyConsolas ''HobbyConsolas'' is a Spanish video game magazine founded in 1991 by Hobby Press and published by Axel Springer SE. The first issue appeared in October 1990. The monthly magazine offers information about games for all consoles, and since 2012 ha ...

'' rated the film with 62 points ("acceptable"), citing the "amazing" cinematography and the privilege of having Sbaraglia, Darín, and Luppi together (even if the director does not make the most out of it), but pointing out the film's main flaw to be its writing ("very flat and monotonous in the beginning and rushed in the end"). Javier Ocaña of '' El País'' found similarities with ''

Affliction Affliction or Afflicted may refer to: Books * ''Affliction'' (novel), a 2013 Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton * ''Affliction'', a novel by Russell Banks, basis of the 1998 film Film and TV * ''Affliction'' (1997 film), ...

'' and '' A Simple Plan'', otherwise considering that the film boasts "more visual and acting strength than narrative trength, failing to crystallize its ideas into an impactful thriller. Sergio F. Pinilla of ''

Cinemanía ''Cinemanía'' is a Spanish language monthly film magazine based in Madrid, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin) ...

'' rated ''Black Snow'' 3½ out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "an effective, solvent film", once again demonstrating the expertise of Argentine cinema when approaching a certain brand of "intimate, claustrophobic" thriller.

Accolades

, - , align = "center" , 2018 , , 10th Gaudí Awards , , Best Actor , , Ricardo Darín , , , ,

References

{{reflist Films shot in Buenos Aires Films shot in Andorra Films shot in the province of Lleida Argentine thriller films 2010s Argentine films 2010s Spanish films 2010s Spanish-language films Films set in Argentina Spanish thriller films Bowfinger International Pictures films