Despite its ambiguous ending, this is very beautiful piece of art, from Orsons voice to the great music, wondering what you all think of it?
shareInteresting, but not one of my favorites.
"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012
more like a pretentious piece of art; couldn't stand it.
shareI loved this segment, my favorite from the series. Didn't find anything pretentious about it, just an insightful look at a young man retreating from the world, and into himself; it has been seen as the snow being analogous to autism/asperger's syndrome.
A proud achievement from the creative team behind season two.
It reminded me of the poem "The Erl-King", a children's classic.
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I didn't care much for it, although it was well-presented. About halfway through I was thinking that Paul might be going deaf, and that his mind was somehow compensating for it by imagining the snow. IMO the story just wasn't eerie, frightening, or even strange enough to be included in this series.
shareI didn't appreciate the story until I got older and realized this was a story of a boy who was autistic and sinking into his own world where the "snow" kept the world out.
shareIt did not occur to me that he might be autistic, primarily because Paul is way too old to be starting to exhibit the symptoms. I guess it could be some other form of mental illness, such as schizophrenia. That could also explain his violent reaction to his parents.
shareThe most haunting of N.G. Scripts. Even the title sends chills down your spine. To this day I recall sitting in DAILIES, day after day, chilled to death. gs
shareI remember not really understanding the point of the story when I read it and being even more confused watching this adaptation.
shareI was really young, so didn't begin to try to understand until I saw episodes repeated later, but I thought the story was in keeping with the times, about drug use; snow for blow. Sort of like the Little Match Girl story in that way, they get pulled further in until they are consumed.
shareI thought it was excellent; I liked it better than the 1966 black and white version of the same story (directed by the same director, I think). The boy did a wonderful job of portraying a character who was just slightly "off". Even the way he walked when going home from school looked a little broken, and different from the other students around him. When he's being questioned by the doctor and his parents, and glances at the window where the snow is coming in, he gives a little giggle, and I can really feel the horror his mother experiences.
Flat, drab passion meanders across the screen!
Here is a link for "The Erl- King"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORkrZz-iVjw
I love this episode, because I am a huge fan of the short story by Conrad Aiken. This is as well done as it could have been. I do recommend that if you haven't read the story, you do so, because something is definitely lost in the translation to film. The language is lovely, and conveys something both horrible and beautiful at once.
What's it going to be then, eh?
I always thought it was beautiful, and terribly sad.
But I'd read the short story before seeing it, which may make rather a lot of difference.
Do not mock a love-smitten mouse.
Since the first time it aired, I have loved this episode. This and "The Dark Boy" are two of my absolute favorites. I'm watching it again right now.
I've always had a fascination with snow and isolation, being able to withdraw from the world. The best times were when the school/work week was over so that I could "hole up" and shut out the world. In summer, when I have the most pain and the most difficulty sleeping, I close my eyes and picture snow falling and collecting, of frost on the windows and wind rattling the panes, just escaping into the coolness, overcast skies and darkness. Then, I curl up and sleep, perhaps finally dreaming. Maybe it's because I'm a winter baby. Perhaps it's my ADHD and tendency to be a hermit. I've always been happier on my own, thinking of my characters and stories. I always felt I was just barely functioning "out there", rather like Paul seems to.
So, I can understand Paul's withdrawal. Radames Pera does a remarkable job, especially when he isn't speaking. And, Orson Welles' narration is exactly right.
It's a perfect episode.
P.S. "Midnight Sun" (TZ) always was striking to me, with sunlight and eternal day being torment and night and the cold being preferable. After all, the cold makes you sleepy then tricks you with warmth, lulling you into the dark. Yes, I've experienced that sensation following the initial hypothermia, and it's much better than sunstroke, heat and humidity.
As Robert Frost wrote:
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
I agree with you. I remember I didn't think I'd like it, and thought the "dailies" were endless, but changed my mind upon seeing the final cut. It was haunting. gs
shareAs a child, I thought the episode a bit boring. Now, I love it. One of my favorites.
I'd love to see those dailies!
"Silent Snow, Secret Snow" is one of my favorite short stories. I did like the episode but it didn't translate too well for the screen. The short story is truly haunting.
shareLove Silent Snow, Secret Snow. Just love it.
One of my all time favorite pieces of dialog:
paul: "i'm just thinking.."
doctor: "about what?"
paul: "about the snow.."
mother: "what snow?"
paul: "just snow.. i like to think about it.. (exasperated) you know what snow is.."
I love it when the kid says, "you know what snow is" in that impatient tone of voice.
Just interesting to me that some people seem to get frustrated and annoyed with this episode, and have a need to pin down and understand exactly what's happening to Paul.
I first saw this episode when I was a teenager, late at night, when NG was in half hour syndication.
It never occurred to me to get bothered by the fact that I didn't quite know what was happening to Paul. It seemed to me that if it was all spelled out, it would have ruined it. Just thought the episode was fragile, lovely, and haunting, just like Rod Serling promised me it would be.
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