On My Way (Neige) is a film from the skillful director, Paule Beaudoin out of Canada. It takes place during an eerie winter storm, beautifully shot as the stunning cinematography showcases gorgeous, chilling shots of a relentless winter storm at night. Inside a warmly-lit house resides a young girl cozied up on a couch, reading a comic book and a man, presumed to be her father, watching her. It is in this house that we begin to get an understanding of what is going on in this short but impact story.
The father, Jules (played by Benjamin Déziel), after observing the girl, Sara (Olivia Leclair) for a moment, approaches her, asking why she’s still awake. The young one explains she had a nightmare and is unable to sleep, so she thought she would stay up and read some comics to take her mind off of things. Her father suggests a way to help her with this predicament, if she’ll explain to him the nightmare that plagues her.
Jules then begins to draw out, in a comic-like fashion, her nightmare, giving it a visual life and sketching it out as his daughter recounts her dream back to him. Frequently though, in the middle of his sketching, he is overcome with cold as images flash in front of him in a disorienting fashion. Quickly, he returns his attention to his daughter and continues to draw, determined to give her nightmare a better, happy ending.
As more and more images flash in his head and he is physically overcome by the cold, the bigger picture begins to become more and more clear. Young Sara, concerned, covers her father in a blanket, fretting over him, and it is with a horrified realization that Jules comes to terms in his heightened state, as to what is truly happening.
On My Way is a stunning film that is shot absolutely beautifully. It captures the harsh relentless nature of a winter storm with chilling exterior shots and juxtaposes these with shots highlighting the warm glow of a homey residence, and the two individuals safe inside, away from the elements. The performances from the two are touching and authentic, and the story is short, powerful and emotionally driven. The ending is a sharp turn that will stay in your mind long after cutting to black.