What happens to wild girls as they grow up? Some evolve, learning life lessons from their quirky adventures. Others repeatedly flirt with danger until fate catches up to them. Then, there are those like Coline, who have to confront the toughest challenge of all—life itself.
In The Incredible Snow Woman, directed by Sébastien Betbeder, we meet Coline (Blanche Gardin). She’s in Greenland, skiing through snowy valleys, battling bad weather. Soon, we find her lying in the snow, seemingly frozen.
Back home in the Jura mountains of France, Coline faces a different kind of storm. While trying to sneak into her brother’s house, she collides with Basile (Philippe Katerine). Coline has just been fired from her job as a polar explorer over “gross misconduct.” To make matters worse, she’s about to be dumped by her partner. Her presentation of exploration photos frightens the townsfolk, including her ex, Christophe (Laurent Papot). With her vivid memories of mishaps and encounters, including a polar bear, she wrestles with her own mental health issues, struggling to write her memoirs amidst the chaos of her life.
Coline’s journey pushes her to a breaking point. When Basile can’t handle her anymore, their younger brother Lolo (Bastiein Buillon) attempts to guide them on a mountainous escape, but Coline feels unfulfilled. She eventually escapes again. Halfway through the film, we see her discovered by two Inuit, Ole (Ole Eliassen) and Martika (Martin Jensen), who bring her to their village. Here, for the first time, Coline finds a sense of belonging—but a hidden secret looms over her.
Betbeder’s film mixes offbeat humor with existential drama, set against the backdrop of stunning natural beauty. The cinematography captures the contrast between calm snowy landscapes and Coline’s whirlwind life. As tensions rise, the camera work becomes more frenetic, reflecting her inner turmoil.
Gardin’s performance is crucial to the film’s success. Without her, this story might feel like a standard dramedy that tries too hard to be quirky. Her mix of vulnerability and unpredictability brings depth to Coline, elevating the film beyond its familiar premise.
Reviewed on: 21 Feb 2025
