World premiere

The Ice That Still Supports Us

Local title
Jäätee veerel
Title in Russian
На обочине ледяной дороги
Original title
Jäätee veerel
Director
Arko Okk
Country
Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Czechia
Year
2023
Programme
Baltic Film Competition
Subject
lifestyle

The ice road is closed!

Philosophical, meditative, ironic documentary without additional questions or explanations.

In 325 BC Greek geographer Pytheas walked on the frozen ocean. 2348 years later Arko Okk stands on the edge of the sea, which provides a risky shortcut for drivers. Guardian of the ice road, Jaanus can’t promise that the crossing will be open tomorrow but registers all numbers of passing cars and bikes. The mayor is worried about each centimetre of the melting ice.
A melancholic, metaphorical, and anthropologic portrait of inhabitants, for whom the ice brings fun games or improvised competitions. We hear carefully recorded footsteps on the snow, mighty wind, and raindrops and perhaps feel the cold through the screen.

Eight years of filming on the 3.3 km Noarootsi – Haapsalu ice road delivers a monumental experience of unstoppable passing time.

Edvinas Pukšta

Director
Arko Okk
Screenwriter
Arko Okk
Producer
Arko Okk
DoP
Arko Okk
Composer
Miina Härma, Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Runtime
Language
Estonian
Subtitles
English
Director
Arko Okk

Ristumine peateega (1999), Seal, kus lõpeb luule (2009, doc), Jäätee veerel (PÖFF 2023, doc),Ma sündisin garaažis 3D (2024, doc)

Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi

Screenings

9th Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening130901 / Jäätee veerel
SubtitlesEnglish
Q&A guestsArko Okk (Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Director of photography, Editor), Teresa Rožanovska (Co-producer), Aku Louhimies (Co-producer), August Okk (Cast), Krištof Blabla (Composer), Sandra Heidov (Editor)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening142201 / Jäätee veerel
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Hall Electric Cinema, TARTU
Screening164201 / Jäätee veerel
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Trailer
Q&A with the filmmaker