Worst Winter scene EVER

I would guess that Wise, who went on-location whenever he could, was contrasting the documentary footage of the preceding Indian funeral flashback with this patently artificial setting, implying his attitude toward the naturalness of the one over the other. It is the one outdoor scene not shot out-of-doors. That said, it does not work as a viewing experience and should have been reconsidered.

cyc = Cyclorama = a giant piece (or pieces of) canvas on which are painted the sky and distant horizon. Meant to help simulate outdoors when the filmmakers want the controlled environment of the studio and/or to avoid the cost of location shooting.

Imagine the cost of going to Canada to get real snow, build a real snowman, schlep all those kids up there, light the bonfire . . . . and then do take after take after take, all the while re-building the snowman and putting up with whining kids who are bored between takes, etc., etc.,