The Dog Who Stopped the War

The children of the small Quebec town split into two snow-war camps: the defenders led by Pierre and the attackers led by Luc, with François on the defenders' side. An observer, Danny Martin from Victoriaville, declares neutrality and watches the tension unfold with interest. The stage is set for a wintry war of wits and courage.

François, the genius boy, designs a massive, elaborate fortress that will become the defenders' stronghold. Pierre's group begins the construction, turning the plan into a real, towering snow structure. The fortress is meant to hold off the attackers and showcase their ingenuity.

Pierre's group assembles the walls, ramparts, and barricades based on François's design. Cléo the dog stands as morale for the defenders and a symbol of home for Pierre and friends. The fortress finally looms over the snowy landscape, a beacon for the standoff to come.

Luc arrives with his army, wearing improvised armor and wielding wooden swords. They attempt to scale the walls with a ladder, but Luc is injured and orders a retreat. The defenders hold their ground as snow showers mingle with the shouting.

The attackers regroup and mount a second, more covert assault, launching snowballs soaked in ink to stain and disorient the defenders. The fortress walls stand, but the defenders struggle to keep their lines and visibility improves as ink marks spread. The clash continues with grit and stubbornness from both sides.

Luc returns with a third assault, this time with garbaged bags for protection from ink. They overwhelm the fort's defenses, forcing Pierre and François to escape via a secret tunnel on a toboggan. The defenders slip away to regroup and plan a final showdown elsewhere.

Pierre and Luc's groups meet and agree to have one final battle to determine the winner, setting aside the grudges for a moment. The tension remains high as both sides prepare for the climactic clash. The neutral observer watches the snow crunch under their boots as the confrontation gears up.

Luc returns with an even larger army, recruiting younger children with chocolate. They bring new weapons such as slingshots and a snowball cannon, and push toward breaching the fortress walls. The defenders brace themselves for a battle that will test their ingenuity and courage.

During the siege, the fortress wall collapses and Cléo the defender's dog is killed. The two sides stop fighting to bury her, a rare moment of shared sorrow amid the snow, marking a turning point in the war's mood. The crowd takes a breath and the snow muffles the cries.

With Cléo mourned, the two groups end hostilities and begin to bury the hatchet, choosing to honor their fallen friend together. The snow-covered town holds its breath as they reflect on the futility of conflict and the value of friendship and cooperation. The landscape softens as forgiveness takes root.

The film closes with Nathalie Simard performing the song L'amour a pris son temps, which translates to Love Is On Our Side, leaving the audience with a note of hopeful unity after the winter war. The credits roll as the snow continues to fall gently over the town.