Starring Rebecca Dalton and Marcus Rosner
***SPOILER ALERT***
Teagan (Dalton) is exhibiting her photographs of snowflakes in the art gallery a friend, Charlotte (Madeline Leon), owns. They’ll be auctioned off to fund repairs to the community center. Teagan’s exhibition comprises thirty-four of the thirty-five different snowflake shapes, and she’s seeking the missing one, a rare twelve-sided stellar dendrite. One of her photography students, Julie (Ava Weiss), introduces her to her dad, Noah (Rosner), a snowplow driver, but they’ve already met; he and Teagan had a high school romance. Soon an art collector, Calvin (Michael Gordin Shore), strikes a deal with Teagan: if she can find and photograph the elusive snowflake, he’ll buy the entire collection and donate additional funds to the center. With the pressure on, Teagan convinces Noah to take her to the center of an oncoming storm, where atmospheric conditions will be ideal for creating the snowflake. Meanwhile, a rival photographer, Suzanne (Julia Dyan), hopes to beat Teagan to the punch with a photo of her own.
PROS
I was eagerly anticipating this first Christmas in July film, as it was directed by Max McGuire, whose heartwarming movies often feature unexpected elements. This one, written by Bryar Freed, was no exception. McGuire’s credits include Romance with a Twist (2024), My Christmas Guide (2023), and Christmas by Design (2023).
An unusual and rich premise. Seeking a rare twelve-sided snowflake was a fresh idea, and few quests could be more difficult. The snowflake would have to land on a dark surface to be photographed (and not melt, of course). The movie’s information about snowflakes was accurate; there are thirty-five different shapes, atmospheric conditions—temperature and humidity—do determine which shapes will form, and there really is such a thing as a twelve-sided stellar dendrite. Science aside, I enjoyed how Falling Like Snowflakes romantically equated the formation of the rare dendrite—actually two hexagonal snowflakes fused together—to the coming together of two people who are meant to be. As well, Teagan’s quest wasn’t trivial or selfish—obtaining a picture of the dendrite would have positively impacted the community center, so a lot was riding on her success. And she was also trying to honor her deceased mom through her work, as they’d hunted snowflakes together. At first glance, the premise might have seemed silly, but the film made it work.
Dalton and Rosner. Thanks to these actors, Teagan and Noah seemed deeply connected and compatible. Dalton and Rosner, who starred earlier this year in Love on the Right Course, brought a believable warmth and familiarity, if not intense fireworks, to the relationship, and their characters had an easy rapport once they recovered from the shock of seeing one another for the first time in years (Noah had been living elsewhere but returned with Julie after his wife died). Their romance developed organically. I especially liked how Noah appreciated what Teagan was trying to achieve and boosted her spirits when she felt discouraged, always insisting it was still possible to find the right snowflake—never mind the three times she’d looked for it. For her part, Teagan was immensely grateful for his support.
A touch of drama. A severe storm threat hung over Teagan and Noah’s pursuit, as they were heading into wilderness in increasingly foul weather. When they finally arrived at the ideal spot for finding the dendrite, they lost each other in the driving snow and called out frantically to one another. A huge branch descended from above, and they hugged in relief at finding each other and not getting injured. And in her panic, Teagan left her camera behind and thought she’d dashed her chances of producing the much-needed photograph. Though the movie wasn’t all that dramatic, these incidents generated sufficient tension.
The supporting cast. I liked all of the actors, but two really captured my attention: Ava Weiss as Noah’s daughter, Julie, and John Nightingale as Wayne, the owner of the inn where Teagan and Noah stopped for the night. I remember Weiss from My Christmas Guide and The Most Colorful Time of the Year (2022), and she continues to inspire with the natural quality of her acting. Nightingale was delightful as the jovial innkeeper who quoted Dickens and went caroling in Victorian costume, and who also rescued Teagan and Noah (see Cons).
A different kind of villain. Suzanne was a sneaky soul trying to insinuate her way into the exhibition, and she pumped Julie for the secrets of snowflake photography. What made this villain novel was her ineptness—she turned out to be no threat to Teagan. Suzanne bumbled around, getting laughably blurry photos that underwhelmed Charlotte.
CONS
Though it was a tad light on chemistry and drama, I nevertheless found this movie endearing for its gentle sweetness. It felt cozy, comforting, and Christmassy. However, one glaring flaw stood out.
The inadequate snowplow. Noah would have been able to clear away heavy loads with that impressive-looking snowplow of his, yet after he and Teagan hit a patch of black ice, they skidded into a tiny snowdrift that somehow defeated the powerful vehicle! They couldn’t get out, and it was Wayne who released the snowplow from that modest patch of snow.
My grade for Falling Like Snowflakes: B+
Caroline Kaiser is a professional book editor who specializes in fiction and memoirs, and she’s been guiding writers toward publication since 2007. Caroline is also the author of two ghostly mystery novels, Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. Before she embarked on an editing and writing career, she spent many years working in a Toronto auction house as an antiques appraiser. Apart from curling up on the couch and drinking tea as she watches Hallmark movies, Caroline enjoys baking and exploring London, Ontario, the picturesque city she now calls home. Her website is www.carolinekaisereditor.com.
