The Ice That Still Supports Us
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
Arko Okk (1967) is a film cinematographer, director and producer. He started his studies in the area of cinema and TV film cinematography at the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography in 1993. In 1998, Arko established Acuba Film together with Jaan Tätte. After working as a freelancer, Arko worked as the cinematographer and director of Hardi Volmer’s debut feature “Firewater” (1994). Their collaboration continued with the feature film “All My Lenins” (1997) and the first Estonian animated documentary “Pärnography” (2005). Arko has also been the cinematographer of “An Affair of Honour” (1999), “Agent Wild Duck” (2002), “Revolution of Pigs” (2004) and Laila Pakalnina’s “The Hostage” (2006). Arko’s first directed film was “The Highway Crossing” which premiered in 1999. He is also the author of the first Estonian stereo-format documentaries (“Man Who Lived in Three-dimensional Time” and the short film “Hope”). Arko’s documentary “The Ice that Still Supports Us” (2023) premiered at PÖFF last year.
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
