The Breaking Ice

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The Breaking Ice

2024

1h 37m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Young urbanite Haofeng feels lost and adrift on China's northern border. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana, a charming guide who instantly fascinates him. She introduces him to Xiao, and the three bond quickly.

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Critics Consensus

A beautifully filmed portrait of twentysomething ennui, The Breaking Ice explores interpersonal connections with a subtle, delicate touch.

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Christy Lemire

Breakfast All Day

02/02/2024

8.7/10

I love the sense of place.

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Alonso Duralde

Breakfast All Day

02/02/2024

8.5/10

I think this is really gorgeous, and and I hope it finds an audience here.

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Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

01/29/2024

The script by Chen manages to offer a coral look that allows us to get close to each central character and truly identify with them. [Full review in Spanish[

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Amarsanaa Battulga

The China Project

10/22/2024

While all three of his previous features deal with outsiders or foreigners, this time Chen himself has become a stranger to the place and the people in his China-set story.

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Soham Gadre

Film Inquiry

03/05/2024

Despite the film’s clear highlighting of class dichotomies between the rich and working-class, it finds a sympathetic commonality in all of them in the mysteries of youth.

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Jeffrey Zhang

The Playlist

02/09/2024

A-

What Anthony Chen’s films lack in sticking to the ribs is more than made up for in their emotional verisimilitude, and “The Breaking Ice” is no exception

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug 06/14/2025

Slow paced, I stuck with it because I was hoping for a good pay off. It never came. If you insist on watching it despite my low rating do yourself a favor and google "Yanbian" first. It will save you a lot of time wondering where the hell they are.

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John A

@ExcessMale 08/02/2024

A emotional tone-poemesque character study rife with vibrant and moody cinematography. Sadly, it appears this little gem is quickly being forgotten due to lack of exposure.

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LABEL 2

@RT75584273 03/21/2024

整体画面质感很好，"冰迷宫"和"隔帘爱抚"两段给人留下非常深的印象，三人所散发出的游离而无奈的松弛感似乎能随着边境小城的凛冽空气飘出屏幕；可惜表达多少有些用力过猛、意象过剩，有时甚至生怕观众不懂似的强行点明主旨，不免有些扫兴。

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Anthony Chen

Director

Zhou Dongyu

Nana

Liu Haoran

Li Haofeng

Chuxiao Qu

Han Xiao

Anthony Chen

Screenwriter

Meng Xie

Producer

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Synopsis

Young urbanite Haofeng feels lost and adrift on China's northern border. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana, a charming guide who instantly fascinates him. She introduces him to Xiao, and the three bond quickly.

Director: Anthony Chen
Producer: Meng Xie, Anthony Chen
Screenwriter: Anthony Chen
Distributor: Strand Releasing
Production Co: Huace Pictures, Canopy Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 19, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 37m