Seen ‘Never wipe tears without a glove’, english title of the Swedish series renamed Snö in French (original title Torka aldrig tårar utan handskar), 2012.
First scene: a patient in pain on a hospital bed. Nurses in capes, gloves, masks and gowns. A careless gesture by one of them, a gesture of humanity quickly repressed by the other. You’d think you were dealing with an unknown virus like Covid19, which has left thousands of people to die without any final human contact. In fact, it’s worse, iIt’s the HIV epidemic of the 80s.
Extrait 1 – Snö – N’essuie jamais les larmes sans gants
It’s worse because it’s mainly young people who die here, slow deaths over several years, with numerous pathologies, little chance of survival and often no support. Because the sick are considered pariahs by society.
The series is based on a true story: the meeting of two boys in Stockholm. One, Benjamin, was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness tradition, the other, Rasmus, comes from the country. It’s a love story, but not but not only.
Extrait 2 – Snö – Une histoire d’amour
Because Snö also tells the story of an era. How to come out as gay in a country that is still very traditional. The epidemic? First you don’t understand, then you deny it, then you rebel.
Extrait 3 – Snö – Ils inventent cette pseudo maladie pour qu’on retourne au placard
It’s also the discovery of another culture, with The stark contrast between nature and underground life. And scenes that we still see today.
Extrait 4 – Snö – Scène de discothèque
The characters are endearing. At times it veers a little towards the melodramatic, with a few notalgic flashbacks to childhood. The direction is well done, with a lot of back and forth in time that leaves a touch of suspense in the despair. But it’s not all doom and gloom. I was won over by the funeral scene and it gives me ideas to put in my will.
Extrait 5 – Snö – Un enterrement de première classe
It’s a series you need to know for its cultural value, to put our times into perspective, to keep up the fight and stop being afraid.
Snö can be seen on Outplay.
(already posted on 25 May 2020).
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