Despite the Falling Snow

Time Out London by

Despite the Falling Snow is held back by stylistic choices.

Empire by Ian Freer

An old school romantic thriller that lacks the subtleties and sophistication of recent spy storytelling, be it on the big screen (Bridge Of Spies) or small (The Night Manager).

Total Film by James Mottram

The 'dual roles' conceit doesn’t quite work, despite Ferguson's best efforts. But, while it struggles to find rhythm, you can't fault Sarif's ambitions.

Los Angeles Times by Kimber Myers

Despite the Falling Snow is ostensibly a love story set against a Cold War thriller backdrop, but it features no heat and little tension.

Village Voice by Nick Schager

So tasteful it’s torturous, Despite the Falling Snow is a Cold War espionage thriller for those who like their period-piece action airless and derivative.

Variety by Owen Gleiberman

When a film’s basic strategy is to cut between the past and the present, it should create ripples of anticipatory tension. But Despite the Falling Snow is one of those movies in which the cross-cutting keeps destroying all mood and momentum — it feels more like channel-surfing.

The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw

It features laborious acting and directing, and a screenplay whose revelations are uninteresting, even were they not guessable long in advance.

The Telegraph by Tim Robey

So many shivery night-time clinches in Moscow fill Despite the Falling Snow’s modest runtime, you wonder what proportion of the budget went on that ever-whirring snow machine.