Snow Cake 2007

Eccentric teenager Vivienne Freeman hitches a ride with the reluctant recluse, Alex Hughes, a visiting Englishman. Tragically, as they arrive in her hometown of Wawa, Ontario, Vivienne meets a fatal accident when a transport truck collides with their vehicle, leaving Alex with nothing more than a nosebleed. This unfortunate event is confirmed by everyone to be an accident for which Alex is not at fault.

In the wake of this tragedy, Alex seeks to support Vivienne’s mother, Linda, by delivering some gifts that Vivienne had bought for her. However, when Alex arrives, he finds that Linda appears oddly detached; she has just been informed of her daughter’s death mere hours before. Deeply affected by autism, Linda exhibits unusual behaviors that contrast sharply with her understanding of the circumstances. She struggles with a compulsive cleanliness obsession, which makes her avoid touching garbage bags. This predicament leaves her in desperate need of assistance with taking out the trash, a chore that was previously handled by Vivienne. Understanding her situation, Alex agrees to stay for a few days, promising to help her with this task while also making arrangements for Vivienne’s funeral.

During his time in Wawa, Alex finds himself forming a relationship with Maggie, Linda’s neighbor, who Linda mistakenly believes to be a sex worker. Tensions rise when the local Chief of Police, Clyde, becomes jealous of Alex’s budding connection with Maggie. In a misguided attempt to drive them apart, Clyde informs Maggie of Alex’s recent release from prison due to his involvement in a man’s death.

This revelation prompts Maggie to confront Alex about his past. He confesses that he was involved in an unfortunate incident where he accidentally caused the death of the man who had fatally hit his son while driving under the influence. The weight of that loss lingers, as Alex had only just discovered he had a son through a brief affair, and was on his way to meet him when tragedy struck.

As their connection grows, Linda’s abrasive feelings towards Maggie initially keep her from accepting any help from her. However, after Alex departs to continue his journey to Winnipeg, she begrudgingly allows Maggie into her home to assist with the garbage, marking a significant shift in her perspective. Through this experience, each character grapples with their past while forging unexpected bonds in the face of grief and misunderstanding.