From Swedish vampires to Japanese letters, these stories show how winter makes the perfect canvas for exploring love, loss and memory

In cinema, winter isn't just a backdrop -- it's a character itself, shaping emotional landscapes as much as it shapes physical ones.

As the freezing cold tightens its grip, here are three films that use snow-covered settings as vital elements in their storytelling, each exploring complex human emotions against a pristine white canvas.

"Let the Right One In" (Wide Release Co.)

'Let the Right One In' (2008)

Swedish director Tomas Alfredson transforms winter's bleakness into something beautiful yet haunting in this uniquely moving vampire tale. Set in the snow-covered landscapes of 1980s Sweden, the film follows 12-year-old Oskar, a bullied loner who finds an unlikely friend in Eli, his mysterious new neighbor who walks barefoot in the snow and "has forgotten how to feel cold."

Their tender relationship unfolds against stark white landscapes that belie the story's moral ambiguity. Hoyte Van Hoytema's crystalline cinematography captures both innocence and horror -- blood spattered on pristine snow, young love blooming in barren courtyards. Here, the winter setting reflects the isolation that both traps and protects its characters.

Re-released in Korean theaters just this Wednesday, this genre-bending modern classic remains as emotionally piercing as the endless winter nights it portrays.

"Love Letter" (Waterhole Company)

'Love Letter' (1995)

"Ogenki desuka?" (How are you?)

This simple question, a beloved catchphrase from the film, echoes through Shunji Iwai's timeless romance, where winter serves as a bridge between the past and present.

When Hiroko sends a letter to her deceased fiance's old address in Otaru, a snow-swept port town in Hokkaido, she receives an unexpected reply from a woman sharing his name. This strange correspondence sets off a wistful exploration of memory, grief and connection.

Iwai's swirling camerawork captures the bittersweet poetry of winter and echoes of lost love. Re-released in Korean theaters on Jan. 1, the film has drawn over 60,000 viewers, a testament to its enduring resonance.

"Moonlit Winter" (Little Big Pictures)

"Moonlit Winter" (2019)

"Moonlit Winter" uses Hokkaido's snow-blanketed terrain to tell a delicate story of buried truths and rekindled connections. When teenager Sae-bom discovers a mysterious letter from Japan addressed to her reserved mother, Yoon-hee, it leads them to the wintry town of Otaru, where long-suppressed memories await beneath thick layers of snow.

Director Lim Dae-hyung crafts a masterful meditation on identity and acceptance, using the stark beauty of winter to highlight themes of loss, longing and gradual healing. The film's power lies in its restraint -- like fresh snow muffling noise, it simply lets silence speak volumes.

Available on Netflix, this subtle gem of Korean indie cinema shows that some emotions burn brightest against the coldest of backgrounds.