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¶ Short of the Day #87: Silent Snow, Secret Snow

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Perception de Ambiguity
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¶ Short of the Day #87: Silent Snow, Secret Snow

#1

Post by Perception de Ambiguity »

"Short of the Day" is the daily discussion of a short.

Tasks:
1) Watch.
2) Discuss.
3) Send me your suggestions for the next Short of the Day per PM, along with links to the shorts and comments, questions for the other users to think about, and/or info about the short.

Detailed project introduction & index: here


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Silent Snow, Secret Snow (Gene R. Kearney, 1964) :ICM: :imdb: :letbxd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRDYbfFrps
Length: 16 minutes 58 seconds

Suggested by: Perception de Ambiguity


A haunting short film that due to its narration and its focus on a boy feels like an esoteric educational short. But if looked at it within this context one really would have deem it an anti-educational film in which conventional knowledge is an enemy at most and a hindrance at least, and esoteric understanding is encouraged. Its narrator indeed is in support of everything the young protagonist does, instead of trying to change and correct him.

Despite the narration that runs throughout, 'Silent Snow, Secret Snow' doesn't announce what it is about, and it is presented as neither a cautionary tale, nor horror, nor fantasy, in the end it probably is what you bring to it. It can be a 'Repulsion-esque horror film about an autistic/schizophrenic kid or it can be a wonderful film about a kid looking beyond the hard reality, perceiving a reality that instead is covered in beautiful, white, fluffy, soft snow. I know which reading I prefer.

The film is based on a short story by Conrad Aiken, apparently some kids watched this film in classrooms after reading the story, so knowing this the educational short comparison seems even more appropriate to me. Its director Gene R. Kearney a few years later in the early 70's directed another adaptation of this story for the "Night Gallery" series where Orson Welles provided the narration.

Comments by: Perception de Ambiguity
Last edited by Perception de Ambiguity on May 10th, 2017, 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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#2

Post by Armoreska »

Last edited by Armoreska on May 10th, 2017, 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
he or A. or Armo or any

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currently working towards a vegan/free world + thru such film lists: GODARD, r/antinatalism recommends,..
the rest
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/forum.icmforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1434
and "Gordon" Liu Chia-Hui/Liu Chia-Liang and Yuen Woo-ping and "Sammo" Hung Kam-bo
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#3

Post by Perception de Ambiguity »

Armoreska on May 10 2017, 05:46:34 AM wrote:Also part of this Night Gallery episode:
https://www.icheckmovies.com/movies/nig ... cret+snow/
No, it isn't. I talked about this in the comments.
Last edited by Perception de Ambiguity on May 10th, 2017, 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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#4

Post by Armoreska »

Oh, yeah, I skipped a few vital words. So you think this version is superior?

Looking at the TV version again, it's got some of that cheesy TV vibe
Last edited by Armoreska on May 10th, 2017, 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
he or A. or Armo or any

Image
currently working towards a vegan/free world + thru such film lists: GODARD, r/antinatalism recommends,..
the rest
ANARCHISTS, ANIMAL RIGHTS, Assisted suicide, Existential films, SOCIALIST CINEMA (an amalgamation of lists), Feminist lists, various GSSRM lists (aka LGBTQ+), 2010s bests, Visual Effects nominees, kid-related stuff, great animes (mini-serie or feature), very 80s movies, mah huge sci-fi list, ENVIRO, remarkable Silent Films and Pre-Code (exploring 1925 atm) and every shorts and docu list I'm aware of and
/forum.icmforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1434
and "Gordon" Liu Chia-Hui/Liu Chia-Liang and Yuen Woo-ping and "Sammo" Hung Kam-bo
imaginary awards | youtube channels | complaint lounge | explain how big a fan of slavery you are here, ..viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1535 and here: ..viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4484
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#5

Post by Perception de Ambiguity »

Armoreska on May 10 2017, 02:16:59 PM wrote:Oh, yeah, I skipped a few vital words. So you think this version is superior?

Looking at the TV version again, it's got some of that cheesy TV vibe
I haven't seen the "Night Gallery" version. You can read some opinions here by people who have seen both, which you probably don't need anymore since you apparently have watched it now. But I'll eat my sledge if I like the "Night Gallery" version better than this, Orson Welles narration or not.
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#6

Post by Carmel1379 »

Last edited by Carmel1379 on April 9th, 2018, 12:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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