[4] The film was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards,[5] making the January shortlist.

[6] Twelve-year-old Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) lives with his older sister, Louise (Léa Seydoux), in a housing complex below a luxury Swiss ski resort.

Though he tries to teach her how to refurbish skis, she shows little interest or aptitude and leaves with Bruno (Yann Trégouët) on a vacation.

He also meets Mike (Martin Compston), a resort employee who catches him hoarding stolen skis.

Bruno takes them driving to give Louise practice to help her with job hunting.

Louise demands that Simon follow her at a distance; she keeps their relationship secret because being a single parent makes it hard to get a boyfriend or a job.

Louise does not believe Simon when he turns out his pockets and finds the watch in his pants, and Kristin coldly dismisses them.

The website's critical consensus states: "Léa Seydoux and Kacey Mottet Klein are exceptional as downtrodden siblings in this sad and wintry character study".

[8] Jaques Mandelbaum of The Guardian wrote "Meier explores the cruel physical and atmospheric contrasts between the two worlds, high and low, dwelling on the cloudy skies, grimy slush and the shadow cast by the peaks, which brings semi-darkness to the valley bottom.

The award's jury made this statement about the film: "A well crafted narrative that explores the highs and lows of a complicated familial relationship with authentic performances, supported by grand cinematography, pulls you into the unfamiliar world of a childhood thief whose only constant is the love shared between him and his sister.