“The ice is cracking…” or review of the film “Ice”.
“Can you hear, the ice is cracking …” (“Слышишь, лёд трещит…”) – these words are told by the main heroine AglayaTarasova (Аглая Тарасова) to her mother being a little girl. This scene has a double meaning, which you can find out if you watch the new Russian melodrama “Ice”(“Лед”) directed by Oleg Trofim (ОлегТрофим). This is the debut for Oleg Trofim in the full-length film. Prior to that, he made music videos of Sirotkin and L’One.
The plot is as follows: a little girl Nadya Lapshina (Надя Лапшина) dreams of becoming a figure skater from her childhood. Her mother helps her with this and leads her to a strong coach Irina Shatalina (Ирина Шаталина). The girl, having been refused, begins to train under the guidance of her mother. At the end, Shatalina takes up the training of the future champion. This is the first time in the film, which demonstrates the strength of will and perseverance of Nadezhda Lapshina (НадеждаЛапшина). Before the most grandiose competition, Nadia gets a serious injury. Doctors predict her disability. Frustrated, morally depressed figure skater leaves Moscow for home. Irina Sergeevna (Ирина Сергеевна) sends her young charismatic hockey player Alexander Gorin (Александр Горин) a social aid. Further the film narrates about a way of restoration of the champion and coming back to the big sport.
The main roles were played by Aglaya Tarasova (she has a role in a serial “Interns” (“Интерны”)), Alexander Petrov (Александр Петров)(“Policeisky s Rublevki” (“Полицейский с Рублевки”), “Zakon kamennyh junglei”(“Закон каменныx джунглей”),“Gogol Viy”(“Гоголь. Вий”), Milosh Bikovich (Милош Бикович)(“Hotel Eleon”(“Отель Элеон”), Maria Aronova (Мария Аронова) “Восмидесятые” (“Vos’midesyatye”), “Brigada”(“Бриада”), Xenia Rappoport (Ксения Раппопорт) (“Mify”(“Мифы”, “Lady pik”(“Дама Пик”), Pavel Maikov (“Brigada”). I want to note the acting of Alexander Petrov and Maria Aronova. Watch the film and you will understand what I mean. To present the image so professionally is a talent.
Interesting Facts:
1) Xenia Rappoport is the mother of Aglaya Tarasova in the film and in real life too
2) Aglaya Tarasova and Milos Bikovich are couple in real life
Now the technical side of the film.
Original selection of music. The film sounded some of the famous songs of legendary artists. The creativity is that the actors’ covers were used. Xenia Rappoport recorded “Hochesh”(“Хочешь”), Aglaya Tarasova “Znak beskonechnost” (“Знак бесконечность”) by Zemfira (Земфира), Alexander Petrov – “Pachka sigaret” (“Пачка сигарет”) by “Kino” (“Кино”) group, Milos Bikovich – “Stytsamen” (“Стыцамэн”) by Ivan Dorn (Иван Дорн), children’s choir and Maria Aronova- “Ya soldat” (“Я – солдат”) by 5’nizza.
Operator’s work. This is my first experience in evaluating camera work. However I, as an amateur, can say that that is a good job. There are many different angles. The camera even sometimes emphasizes certain details.
Visual effects. The work of color correctors is brilliant. The main color of the film is blue. The choice is due to the parallel with the ice, which gives a blue tint. Blue actors’ eyes, a frozen river, blue suits, even the color of the hockey team, which Alexander Gorin plays in, blue. The idea of a color is genius.
In conclusion, I can say that the task of the film critic is difficult enough. However, I give my personal evaluation to the film “Ice”. On the average – 9,75/10
Anzhela Kaliyeva
