SALAAM SANTA aka THE SNOW JOB
Feature, Slow-Burn Holiday Thriller, Crime, Redemption Drama

A devout Muslim cabbie in Chicago reluctantly takes a job as a department store Santa to save his family from financial ruin—but when his younger brother gets pulled into a Bosnian car theft ring, he’s forced to use faith, street smarts, and sleight-of-hand magic to save his fractured family from a violent past that won’t let go.

SYNOPSIS for Salaam Santa aka The Snow Job

SALAAM SANTA aka THE SNOW JOB Feature by Christine Inserra
Kenan Bolic, a Bosnian Muslim war survivor, scrapes by driving cabs in Chicago—barely holding things together for his widowed mother and troubled younger brother, Denis. But when he loses his job and his mother’s health falters, their apartment is at risk and the bills pile up. Kenan reluctantly takes a gig as a department store Santa. On his first day, he bombs and has to beg for a second chance. But after dreaming of his late father, he channels the joyful sleight-of-hand magic they once shared—bringing wonder and comfort to children with candy canes, coins, and understanding. To his surprise, the red suit becomes more than a costume—it offers purpose, dignity, and a growing bond with a kindhearted Bosnian seamstress, Demila, and her young son, Reuf.

Meanwhile, Denis is lured by fast cash into a Bosnian car theft ring operating out of a local chop shop. As Kenan’s connection to Demila and her son Reuf deepens, he discovers the boy lives in fear of Demila’s volatile boyfriend—Petar, a key player in the same criminal network. Kenan tries to intervene, torn between moral boundaries and his growing sense of love. But when Denis botches a job and is shot, the stakes escalate. Petar retaliates and firebombs their apartment. Kenan must evacuate his family in the dead of night and take refuge in a shelter. Everything he has tried to build is reduced to ash.

A tense and emotionally charged third act takes place on Christmas Eve. Determined to end the cycle of violence and protect those he loves, Kenan devises a bold plan to dismantle the ring from within. Disguised once more as Santa, he teams up with Denis in a high-risk sting operation that blends sleight-of-hand misdirection with real-world justice. The trap is sprung outside a wealthy mansion, where Kenan faces off with Petar in a final, knock-down climax as police swarm the scene and bring the ring to its knees. But instead of revenge, Kenan delivers justice.

The next morning glows with simple comforts: a hearty breakfast, a flicker of magic, and the first deep breath of peace in a long while. A move to St. Louis offers one more chance at healing—for Kenan, for Denis, for Demila and Reuf, and for a mother still recovering from wounds long buried but never forgotten.

THE SNOW JOB is a slow-burn thriller with emotional grit and warmth. It explores faith, moral courage, and the resilience of immigrant families caught between survival and conscience. It’s not a children’s holiday movie, but a tense, character-driven crime drama—wrapped in tinsel and danger, grounded in family loyalty, love, and hard-won redemption.

And to all, a good night!