In Snow Angels, David Gordon Green explores the space between
youth and adulthood, offering a glimpse into the lives of his characters
at that key moment in which they recognize what growing up might
mean. This exploration is the touchstone of his body of work including
All The Real Girls and the critically acclaimed George
Washington, and is poignantly portrayed in Snow Angels,
the story of three couples in adjacent stages of life who are linked
by powerful relationships.
Arthur (Michael Angarano) is in high school. He plays trombone in
the marching band. He becomes friends with Lila Raybern (Olivia
Thirlby), a pretty girl who is just as nerdy as Arthur and who develops
a romantic interest in him. Annie (Kate Beckinsale) used to baby-sit
Arthur. Today they work in the same Chinese restaurant where anyone
can see how much they care about each other, even as their lives
are pulling them in much different directions.
As Lila's affection for Arthur grows, so does the ardor with which
she tries to express it. While he clearly enjoys the attention,
Arthur must deal with the fact that his parents (Griffin Dunne and
Jeanneta Arnette) are splitting up. Meanwhile, Annie's first marriage
to Glenn (Sam Rockwell) has ended. A man with a troubled past, Glenn
used to drink but has since found Jesus Christ and lives with his
parents. Hoping to rebuild his life by getting a job selling carpets,
Glenn also tried to reconnect with Annie as he shows up to visit
their very young daughter.
A film for grown-ups, Snow Angels is about a precise moment
on a cold winter morning when Glenn and Annie's past catches up
with their future. For them, and for Arthur, nothing will ever be
the same.
