The Snow Queen

In the far north, in an ice palace, lives the beautiful yet cruel Snow Queen, who rules over the “snow bees” – snowflakes. She longs to conquer the world and bring about eternal winter. To achieve this, she needs the help of a child, and so she kidnaps young Kai, who is enchanted by the Queen’s magical powers. When spring arrives and the snow begins to melt, brave Kerttu sets out to rescue her friend.

This Finnish adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale (a cult classic in Finland) is considered one of the most faithful to the original. The dreamlike journey into a fantastical realm enchants with its candy-colored visuals and atmospheric music. Päivi Hartzell follows the sensitive yet courageous Kerttu, presenting the story from a distinctive child’s perspective. The result is both a visual feast and an engaging adventure that will captivate not only the youngest viewers.

Hanna Wereszczyńska

Päivi Hartzell (b. 1949) – Finnish film director, actress and producer. She began her career in theatre as a costume designer. For many years she worked on her film adaptation of The Snow Queen, the work that brought her the greatest recognition and remains her best-known film to this day. Hartzell’s films clearly reflect both her artistic training and her natural inclination toward experimentation. They are distinguished by a poetic visual style, subtle interplay of light and colour, and a talent for creating vivid, hypnotic, almost dreamlike images, enhanced by evocative music.

section partner