ANTHONY CHEN | CHINA | 2023 | 97 MIN | CHINESE, KOREAN
Traveling to the small city of Yanji on China’s northern border for a wedding, young businessman Haofeng (Liu Haoran) finds himself melancholic and alone on a local tour led by young and capricious Nana (Zhou Dongyu). Haofeng and Nana share a mutual fascination, and Nana convinces the wealthy young man to come out with her and her best friend Xiao (Qu Chuxiao). Although Xiao is hesitant to bring another guy around Nana, he soon begins to foster his own connection with Haofeng. The three form an unexpected love triangle as their friendship continues to blossom, with the icy and breathtaking backdrop of northern China juxtaposed against the warmth of their relationship. From Singaporean auteur Anthony Chen (winner of PFF22’s Best Narrative Feature award for Ilo Ilo), The Breaking Ice is a gentle and captivatingly told exploration of three interwoven people dealing with their own set of anxieties as they navigate the complexities of growing up and finding themselves.
Cast: Zhou Dongyu, Liu Haoran, Qu Chuxiao
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