Cipher in the Snow (1974) User Reviews

Childhood Morality Tale

[djsheets-1 · 7/10 · 30 July 2007]

I recently read an editorial in the paper that mentioned this movie; though I had long forgotten it, the name made me remember it. I too saw this in school and albeit it is a very depressing movie, the message is undeniable. Everyone needs something in life; those that get ignored often turn inward but some people cannot look inward and thus have nothing, not even themselves to be attached to and love.

This movie should be shown to children when they are in the 3rd-5th grade, whilst still unhardened by layers we invent to shield ourselves growing up. While the film may be hard to relate to -I too was a bit baffled that someone could just give up the ghost (like Russell Crowe at the end of Gladiator)- its import is that sometimes we each have to reach out to people we otherswise would never even notice.

And for any potentially cipher reading this, you should make the attempt to reach out, even if initially rejected, someone will accept you eventually.

It molded me; along w/ a mystery short where juvi hoods rip up a poetry book!

[leshaholland · 8/10 · 21 July 2008]

Wow; You could'a knocked me over with a feather when I stumbled across this listing--This site never ceases to amaze me!

I, too, was profoundly affected upon first viewing this obscure (or so I thought) short subject. I don't remember the year, just that I was attending a "progressive" elementary school (Murdock, La Mesa/Spring Valley, CA). I'm 40 years old now, and like the other "comment-ers" I still think back to this one every now and again; I've even gone so far as to ask several of my film-dork friends over the years about it, to no avail.

Perhaps one of you "Cipher" fans can help me unearth details on another educational short from roughly the same period. Sadly, the title must've been stored in one of the many brain cells i've subsequently destroyed, but here's what I remember:

I guess that the overriding theme of the film is "group-think" and/or the evils of juvenile-onset Sociopathy: We meet a kindly, committed male educator; His favorite thing, other than helping to mold young minds, is his first-edition, autographed (i think) collection of e.e. cummings poetry. Through a series of events I no longer remember (could it have been some sort of 'initiation'?) a small group of his students break in or something and end up tearing up this Prized Possession... All flippancy aside, I really do look back on this as the first introduction to the concept of empathy.

Can anyone help me to identify the film? PLEASE respond here, or by e-mail, as i can't figure out how to join in any reindeer-messageboard-games!

2012 UPDATE: "The Boy Who Liked Deer" was its name!!! Thank you so much for e-mailing me the title of the lost short I just described, 2 different people whose names I forget! You've made it possible for me to find it on You Tube and add it to my YT page/playlists. www.youtube.com/leshaann Thank you!

A bleak but very moral story...

[EyeAskance · 13 June 2003]

This penetrating short film was screened at my middle-school in the mid-70s, and to this day it continues to cross my mind. Allegedly inspired by a true event, the film denotes a lonely, withdrawn boy ridiculed by schoolmates, invisible to teachers, and mistreated at home. A complete absence of love and intermutuality gradually reduces him to "a cipher"(meaning, literally, "zero"). One early morning before school, he is finally granted a single tender mercy...he falls dead on a snowbank, released at last from his quiet suffering.

I consider this film an integral part of my upbringing. It planted a seed in my young mind, and served to pilot my conscious efforts toward being a good person, and to step forward when others are being unjustly or inhumanely treated. In the many years which have passed since I saw it, I suspect CIPHER has become stylistically dated. That said, I feel it should be remade generationally, so as to update its appeal with the ever-changing mindset of youth. The relevance of this story is eternal, and the importance of human empathy and the awareness that everyone matters can never be given too much reenforcement.

Kudos to the LDS church for funding this silent scream. Eight well-deserved stars for the film, and a zillion stars for the urgency of its purpose.

A Movie You Won't Forget, Except For Maybe The Title

[cutterccbaxter · 10/10 · 4 February 2005]

Over the past 30 years I've thought about this film off and on. I saw it in junior high school back in the day when films were shown via 16mm projectors. The scene of the kid getting off the bus and dying stuck with me. I didn't remember the title of the film, but this is why the IMDb is so great. I have been watching episodes of "The Virginian" in the past year. I looked up "The Virginian" on IMDb and started looking at what other projects the cast members have appeared in. Much to my surprised delight I discovered Roberta Shore from "The Virginian" was in a movie where a kid got off the bus and died. And so now I know the best film I ever saw in a junior high classroom is called, "Cipher In The Snow."

Powerful

[kimberlywork · 10/10 · 25 January 2007]

I was inspired by this movie. The drama is real. The solution is within our human hands. Very humbling and motivating at the same time. This movie touched me in a profound way, at a deep level. I watched it in Grade 7 or 8 (12-yrs-old) at school (do they still show this in schools?!). I haven't seen it since, but I still think of it and I'm 29-yrs-old now! The boy is so ignored, so non-existent to others. When we don't 'matter' to anyone, it's hard to matter to ourselves, especially when we are teenagers, when social acceptance is so very important. This boy didn't even have a family support network. I related to this at a personal level. It's good to watch shows or read books that help us realize we are not alone; that helps us realize we can help others with such little effort. We underestimate our ability to make a difference in someone's life sometimes.

Fuel for depression

[yuukanna · 3/10 · 11 November 2019]

While powerful and thought provoking. Watching this as a child only fueled my childhood experience of depression. It may bring awareness to some, but I can not recommend this film as "good"

People Are Never "Nothing"

[tomtheactuary · 10/10 · 18 March 2009]

30 years ago, my friends and I walked into a high school classroom laughing and joking around like we always did.

We weren't laughing when we walked out.

"Cipher In The Snow" is a film that strikes an almost universal chord among those who have been fortunate enough to see it; a tremendous, penetrating sadness in realizing that people around us are sometimes abused or neglected or ignored, and we, with the best intentions in the world, don't even notice. For younger adolescents, the empathy for the character reference in the title is positively overwhelming.

The film is also very well known as a film almost everyone who ever sees it remembers, although they can't remember its title. Very highly recommended.

A bit too self-aware for its own good

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 30 October 2017]

"Cipher in the Snow" is an American 21-minute live action short film and I don't have too much to say about the cast here as they aren't well-known or about the crew as they are even less famous. This one is from 1974, so nearing its half-century anniversary and it is the story of a teenage boy from a broken family who has no friends at school or anywhere else. His solitude and struggles don't really become visible to anybody before one day he steps out of the school bus into the snow and dies. This is where the problems start for me. It is all a bit too melodramatic for its own good. For example couldn't he have died in a car crash or so. And honestly, some of the scenes in the flashbacks also feel pretty staged to be honest. I guess the subject here is too serious for the guys of MST3K taking this film on, but then again, it is not surprising as they were never particularly daring or creative. Back to this one here, there are several weak production values where I must say I just cannot give it a thumbs-up. But I still think the inclusion in one list only here on IMDb where it is called a "God Awful" movie is a bit harsh. Then again, the film's rating is also a bit too high for sure here on IMDb. I am kinda surprised all the other (and it's not just 1 or 2) reviewers really liked it as I felt the important message was handled not with the talent, precision and love to detail here that I would have loved. It all feels very much for the sake of it. Don't watch.

I want a copy of this most important movie

[dscbass · 10/10 · 21 May 2005]

I saw this movie in Jr High I think was in 1977. It effected me very much, I wanted to cry when I watched it. God knows there are many 'ciphers' out there that even the slightest outreach would change their lives. If anyone knows a way to get a copy of this film I would sure be interested in buying a copy. In some ways back then I identified with the boy in the movie at the time. He was depressed and eventually went into total despair and literally willed himself to death. I believe the movie tried to portray how easily preventable this happening was. I think everyone should watch this movie. It shows how even the smallest initial clues can be picked up and the tragic event at the end of the movie can be prevented.

Ridiculous

[rascooby · 1/10 · 20 February 2021]

My husband mentioned that watching this movie was one of the many traumatic things he remembers about growing up. We watched it tonight. Unbelievable. Besides being a crappy movie, it's not for kids. Maybe 2 minutes of the movie focused on the bullying that this boy endured. The rest of the movie focused on how his mother failed him, his step-father abused him, his teacher and school failed him. This was a boy with obvious mental issues. He needed help from adults and professionals. While I teach my children to be kind always, I also teach them that other's kid's mental issues aren't their responsibility. It almost almost seems like this movie was produced by a cult.

Seems Like Faculty is the Real Audience for This Film

[apollo68 · 17 July 2006]

I remember Cipher In The Snow from 5th grade, more than 25 years ago. What I distinctly remember is Cliff Evans' teacher trying to piece together the kid's tragic story. The film concludes with the teacher vowing to never again ignore (in so many words) "the kid in the back of the room, staring off, lost..."

I wonder if the there was an ulterior subject being addressed here: suicide. Cliff simply dies of a broken heart or spirit, but more often in reality kids like him take their own lives rather than succumb to poor health, as seems the case here. There's plenty for any viewer of this film to ponder, certainly students too. It just seems more tailored to adults, as the story is told from the teacher's perspective.

Cipher in the Snow, an excellent movie

[heidiannes · 10/10 · 4 December 2007]

I remember being shown this movie in 4th or 5th grade in the mid 70's. I remember several in the class breaking down in tears but the reaction of some in our class was equally telling. Those were the kids that joked and actually laughed during the tragic scene in the movie. That is no lie. The movie stunned me and sickened my stomach. Exactly what the movie was trying to convey was being exhibit in real-time in front of me by some of my peers. You could say that those that laughed nervously and joked were afraid of showing their true emotion at the poignant content. For some however, they were showing their true feelings. They were the ones responsible for the harsh treatment, bullying and teasing that went on at our school. There were adults who turned their heads and ignored it. I knew well enough to stay away from the really bad ones. Years later, one of the bad seeds that I knew from that time in elementary school went on to become a convicted murderer.

Some are so hardened, even by 4th or 5th grade that they have no compassion, no soul. It is sad.......

I felt this child's pain as my own

[winddroid · 10/10 · 14 May 2021]

I was a teen when this film was released. It was shown during my Graphic Arts class at Granada High, Livermore CA by one of my most influential teachers, Mr. William (aka Bill), Spake in my life. I felt tossed aside by family and others. After watching this in class, I skipped school and went to an open field and cried--I was more than familiar with this child's agony of loneliness and rejection. For years I felt like I was on the "moon," with nobody around. About the only person in my life during those years who helped me feel self-worth, was Mr Spake. Both he and the movie left me with an indelible memory of how humans' can be--at the very best and worst. I've searched for Mr Spake for years. Seems he became a ghost.

Best short that i have ever seen but people will write it off due to being lds...

[lazygafiltafish · 10/10 · 22 April 2021]

I actually teared up writing this. If you play this to kids and they have no real reaction to it, I'm convinced that have to be a psychopath.

Lots of movies and tv shows about bullying however this one is different. Cliff isn't bullied at school, rather he is ignored (hence the title). No one ever tried making a connection with him. Even victims of bullying get attention but Cliff got nothing....not good or bad. At home he was also neglected and had to deal with comments from his insensitive step father.

The movie gets more depressing and this isn't even 30 minutes.

People won't see this due to the Lds involvement but the lesson in the movie was really one to just compassion and to be kind.

Comment

[xxgarrr · 9/10 · 15 December 2008]

I didn't really see the movie. I read the story. People just make everything seem like a big deal until things get way out of hand. They should just stop being mean or whatever they are doing that might be hurting someone instead of waiting for something like this to change their minds. It's not fun being a cipher especially when life doesn't really matter because you're going psychological inside your head. It's society's fault every time there is a problem. Even though there are many stories like this people still don't pay attention. The world goes round and round and there is nothing that may even make the world stop and realize what's going on around them. Oh yeah maybe until something happens to them they might change their mind ,but other than that they will still end up being the same selfish and careless people on earth.

25 years and it still lingers..

[Schlitzboy13 · 3 June 2005]

This film was shown to me at school when I was a mere 7 years old. I can only assume that the school felt it was necessary as along with 4 other children we were put in a 10x10 room and shown this film and asked about our feelings on the movie.

I came from a broken home at the age of 4 and the memory of this film and my life at that time will never be forgotten. It is unfortunate that today's school systems refuse to show this film and ignore these problems that are so blatant in our younger single parent households.

Without a doubt I can agree with the other comments that this movie changed my life in such a profound way. I am now married and a father of 2 kids. With the ever present residue of this film in my mind I know that my children will never become just another Cipher in the snow.

Powerful short made to be shown in school.

[AlexURinvited · 25 April 2005]

This short strongly affected me when I was at an age and circumstance in life where it proved to be a very effective film. Who would have thought one would see something like this in school. It is the only short shown in school in those days that I can clearly remember today as a powerful film. I assume school films have come a long way from the "duck and cover" fare that was the staple of the cold war. Plus the endless vague health films that left you more confused than informed. And of course the infamous one time a year sex information film which you needed a signed permission slip to view. Again, no information and much laughter was the result. I would have sworn I was younger when I saw "Cipher in the Snow",however. I must have viewed it when it was just released. Thanks to IMDb for listing it. Alex

A Powerful Lesson

[jazzfi · 11 September 2012]

A wonderful, heartbreaking movie with a powerful lesson, how little we sometimes realize as parents, teachers, and leaders , the effect our words have on children.. "Cliff, what are you day-dreaming about today?" Our Father in Heaven never writes off any of his children, and yet we often label them as "dumb" or "slow learner" and they carry this with them.. Highly recommended for all age groups.. He started off such a happy little boy with a love for the beautiful, simple things in life (the frogs, the budding flower) that we take for granted, and his step father failed miserably to see the blessings of such an example, and so sad that mothers put up with such men who would mistreat their children so terribly..

If you've been longing to see this 'long-lost' gem ..

[jgrimsdyke · 6 March 2008]

.....then by all means let me know at the above e-mail addy so that I may arrange it for you. This utterly captivating little film is one that a lot of folks my age can't remember the title of but nonetheless will never forget having seen way back in grade school when 16mm projection of educational films was a frequent ritual. While many of the shorts in question that we were forced to sit through were dry, boring affairs, this heart-rending account of a tragically departed child that everyone at school remembers but nobody seemed to love was/is an historic classroom experience for those who were there. A film that simply must be seen by as many contemporary schoolchildren as possible, if only to stem the tide of 'bullying' that's out of control.

NOT FOR CHILDREN, BYU should be held accountable.

[social-78287 · 11 December 2021]

Absolutely should NOT be shown to children. Should be shelved as a horrible example of misguided film making by an ignorant culture.

The person who contrived this story was clearly suffering in unimaginable ways. That sadly resulted in this convoluted short film being made by others instead of them guiding that person towards healing.

It's as if this story stopped production halfway through and left out the most rewarding parts. Let's remember that in the countless other "cipher" stories the cipher grows and rises and brings out the best in everyone (even the ignorant bullies) and everyone celebrates and heals together. ("The Grinch", "Rudy", "October Sky").

Brigham Young University should be publicly held accountable for allowing this ignorance to be passed around and shown in Utah classrooms for decades. The "university" should create an endowment to see to it that every copy of this atrocity is located and destroyed and that another more rewarding message takes it's place. It is time and I know just the right contractor to see this through. Mike D. Jarman [phone].