The Breaking Ice Movie (2023): Where to watch and stream online

The Breaking Ice

2023, Movie, 1h 40min

Three lost souls find tentative connection in a frozen world in this delicate, lyrical tone poem of youthful alienation and longing. In cold, wintry Yanji, a city on China’s northeastern border, young urbanite Haofeng (Liu Haoran), visiting from Shanghai, feels lost and adrift. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana (Zhou Dongyu), a charming guide who instantly fascinates him and who introduces him to Xiao (Qu Chuxiao), a personable but frustrated restaurant worker. Over the course of a drunken weekend, the three quickly bond as they confront their individual traumas and their desires slowly thaw.

Country: Singapore,China

Director:

Cast:

Reviews

Critic Peter Bradshaw

rated

At its best, this movie has the easy and seductively unencumbered swing of the French New Wave, with something of Godard’s Bande à Part.

Read full review at The Guardian

Critic Greg Nussen

rated

Through its focus on ritual, the film makes clear the cultural osmosis that shapes Yanji (a significant portion of its population is ethnic Korean).

Read full review at Slant Magazine

Critic Nell Minow

rated

...the visual poetry of the images keeps the tone lyrical, and by the time the tour guide herself becomes a tourist, even being prevented from seeing Heaven Lake by the weather, we share the characters’ renewed belief in possibility.

Read full review at Roger Ebert

Frequently asked questions

What is The Breaking Ice about? Toggle content

"The Breaking Ice" is a poignant drama that follows the story of a lost young man who finds himself drawn to a charming tour guide and her friend during a wedding weekend in a cold winter town. As they bond over a drunken weekend, their frozen desires slowly thaw, revealing deep-seated traumas and secrets. Set against the stunning backdrop of snowy landscapes, this intense and emotional journey explores the complexities of human connection and the liberating power of self-discovery.

Where can I stream The Breaking Ice? Toggle content

You can stream The Breaking Ice on: Netflix

What movies are similar to The Breaking Ice? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Breaking Ice include The Whale, Aftersun, Close, The Fabelmans, Minari, Women Talking.

When was The Breaking Ice released in theaters? Toggle content

The Breaking Ice was released in theaters on September 7, 2023.