A chaotic and philosophical journey along an elusive ice road in the outback of Estonia
11 november ONLINE. from 00:00 to 23:59
63 min.
Documentary
Would you risk driving a few kilometers across the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea? For the residents of Estonia’s northern coast, it’s not just a necessity but a centuries-old tradition. The ice road shortcuts dozens of kilometers between the towns of Haapsalu and Noarootsi and carries special cultural significance: it hosts ethnic festivals and drag racing competitions. The route opens every year, but the road is like a ghost—no one knows exactly where or when it will appear. Jaanus, the road’s warden, sitting like a gatekeeper to paradise, meticulously records every car and bicycle that comes around, but he can’t promise the crossing will be open tomorrow: the ice begins to melt faster each day. Experimental documentarian Arko Okk spent eight years observing the local population, resulting in an ironic and melancholic fable about the relentless passage of time and the metaphorical ice that has recently become too thin to hold us all together.
About the film
Original language: Estonian
Subtitles: Belarusian | English
Would you risk driving a few kilometers across the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea? For the residents of Estonia’s northern coast, it’s not just a necessity but a centuries-old tradition. The ice road shortcuts dozens of kilometers between the towns of Haapsalu and Noarootsi and carries special cultural significance: it hosts ethnic festivals and drag racing competitions. The route opens every year, but the road is like a ghost—no one knows exactly where or when it will appear. Jaanus, the road’s warden, sitting like a gatekeeper to paradise, meticulously records every car and bicycle that comes around, but he can’t promise the crossing will be open tomorrow: the ice begins to melt faster each day. Experimental documentarian Arko Okk spent eight years observing the local population, resulting in an ironic and melancholic fable about the relentless passage of time and the metaphorical ice that has recently become too thin to hold us all together.