World premiere
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) graduated from the All Soviet Film Institute (VGIK), Department of Cinematography. In 1998, Okk founded the Acuba Film Studio with Jaan Tätte, where he works as a freelance cameraman, producer and director. His debut feature as director, producer and scriptwriter was "The Highway Crossing" (1999), which won the FIPRESCI prize at the 10th Stockholm IFF and the Best Opera Prima Prize at the 18th Uruguay IFF. He has often worked as a cinematographer and/or producer on film productions together with his former student partner Laila Pakalņina. He has made Estonian first stereo documentary and feature films, such as the minimalist portrait film of Lennart Meri "Monologues 3D" (2007-2011) and the short feature film "Hope 3D" (2011, inspired by Jaan Kross's short story "Four Monologues on St. George").
Filmography:
Ristumine peateega (1999), Seal, kus lõpeb luule (2009, doc), Monoloogid 3D (2011, doc), Jäätee veerel (2023, doc)
Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi
