Fish_chips
Black ice is a strong film, with excellent characterisation, plot development, and filming; in fact it won seven Finnish Jussi (film industry) awards in 2008 including Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Editing, Best Music, and Best Actress. The wife who is misled by her husband decides to play a complex game, but as the plot unfolds she develops dual feelings of both friendship and revenge towards her husband's mistress. Our feelings towards the mistress are bounced around too because she is quite happy to be a participant in the plot of deception she and the husband are engaged in, but then we find she herself becomes an unknowing target in the wife's plan of deception. The wife seems to have a fondness for knives (kitchen, gym props, and scalpels) and this gives the film a further degree of bite. Which of the 'friend or foe' feelings held by the wife will be triumphant by the end of this very fine film?
williama-678-222173
Musta Jaa's dark triangle thriller definitely got my attention with its suspense and twists, but for a country that views women as powerful, this film did a wonderful job of showing them as weak. Perhaps I hold the Scandinavian countries to a higher standard when it comes to social liberalism, but for a movie made in 2007, I do not like its messages. Why are these women victims? Sara should have left her husband immediately, and Tuuli set herself up for a lifestyle of insecurity and unhappiness. Kotwica claims that he wanted two powerful female leads, well Petri, these ladies were pathetic. This movie makes me NOT want to go to Finland, that's for sure.It seems that Kotwica is trying to get us close to both Saara and Tuuli. His portrayal of Tuuli encourages the viewer to be sympathetic towards her. Long takes, using a close up shot show her crying and miserable. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS DATING A MARRIED MAN! This girl is young and beautiful, and she goes after some pock faced homely professor who is "so intelligent" and truly "appreciates her art." Barf! Physical appearance is obviously not the issue here; I just felt like being descriptive. The fact is Tuuli is stupid, ignorant, and epitomizes everything a female should not be. No matter how well you do in school or how great of a citizen you are, sleeping with someone's husband makes you dumb. At the end of the movie, I was crying! I was so happy that Saara helped Tuuli. I wanted her to live, and I felt sorry for her. Then, I thought about it, and realized that she is dating/dated a married man. Duh. I believe in second chances, I do, but Kotwica made me forget everything immoral about Tuuli's character. There were even times when I thought Sara was the annoying one.Let's look at a more positive aspect of Finland. Gender equality! Both Saara and Tuuli are women with good economic standing. Saara is a doctor, showing that she has had many years of education, while Tuuli is currently studying art at the university. Their roles in society seem to portray gender egalitarianism. This portrayal is quite accurate, as Finnish women tend to have full time jobs and have equal rights in the labor market (Arber and Lahelma, 125). In fact, women have historically participated in the labor force. For example, in 1950, 41% of women were employed (Arber and Lahelma, 123). This was possibly the one good thing these women had going for them, but what good is gender equality in the schools and work place when your significant other is a cheating, shallow a. hole? Maybe the consumption of alcohol is a contributor in the poor behavior of these females. We saw Tuuli and pretend Saara go out on two occasions and drink heavily. Sara banged a German exchange student half her age, and Tuuli often cried over her gross married boyfriend. In Substance Abuse (2001), Bloomfield, Gmel, Neve and Mustonen found a large increase in alcohol consumption among Finnish women since 1970. They believe that the egalitarian society causes women to adopt behaviors, such as drinking, from males because they are "increasingly moving into professions and/or lifestyles similar to those of men" (39). Perhaps these are issues that Kotwica wants to address, because it sounds like drinking and infidelity is a prevalent issue in Finland. If his intentions were to prove that this type of lifestyle is unjust and immoral, then yes, I agree with him. My one question I still must continue to ask is: why make Tuuli so innocent? She is a woman who should be able to recognize that her choices are bad for her well being. Is this how Finland views infidelity? I'm not a religious person, so I do not believe adultery is sin, but I think marriage requires commitment between two individuals. Two people in a marriage should have enough respect for each other not to cheat! How about a divorce???? Legally, they're fairly easy to get in Finland.Honestly, I did not hate Musta Jää. It was exciting and had exquisite cinematography, and I always enjoy a film with an unpredictable plot line. And for the record, I am not opposed to traveling to Finland. I know better than to judge a country by one representation. However, the two women angered me, a lot.BibliographyArber, Sara and Eero Lahelma. (1993). "Women, Paid Employment and Ill-Health in Britain and Finland". Acta Sociologica. Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 121-138. Sage Publications. Bloomfield, Kim, Gerhard Gmel, Rudie Neve and Heli Mustonen. (2001). "Investigating Gender Convergence in Alcohol Consumption in Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland: A Repeated Survey Analysis". Substance Abuse. Vol. 22, No. 1.
fedor8
Forget the much-hyped Bermuda Triangle - a Finnish love triangle is where all the danger lurks nowadays.First of all, if you're love-sick and slightly drunk, and you're in the middle of a Finnish Summer (meaning around -30 C) you'd better stay away from the wheel. And if you feel that jää musta drive drunk, make sure you don't crash into a tree, because taking a stroll through the countryside in a Finish night is not an option.It seemed for a moment that one of the triangle's members might lose their life in the tritest of movie clichés - a car accident - but fortunately the writer opts for a cleverer solution.What at first smells like a typical, dull relationship drama quickly develops into an entertaining guessing game: what the hell will happen next? M.Y. is often unpredictable, has a healthy number of plot-twists, and is always on the verge of becoming a thriller (but fortunately doesn't).Toward the end, it almost seems as if all the participants of the love triangle will snuff it. However, "only" one-third lose their life. And because a baby is born at the end, we still end up with a trio...The events tend to unfold a little on the far-fetched side toward the end, but never to the point of blatant hitchcockian or dePalmian insulting of the viewer's intelligence.
native_girl333
Black Ice is an ice-cold story of love, passion and obsession. It is a love triangle with lots of disturbing angles.Saara (brilliant Outi Mäenpää) and Leo (wicked Martti Suosalo) are happily married. Or so it seems. Saara will soon realize that her perfect marriage is a charade and just as thin as ice. Leo has an affair with young and talented Tuuli (fresh and talented Ria Kataja) who is a student of Leo. Saara starts to shadow Tuuli. Saara wants to know what kind of woman is taking her place. Tables turn and Saara forms a tight friendship with Tuuli. The solution can't lead to anything good...Petri Kotwica has written and directed this drama with such realism that it is somewhat repulsive. The love triangle is one of the most used elements but Kotwica manages to make both of the women in the story seem equal. Leo's character is nicely controversial which reflects brilliantly trough his women. It brings us to the question that why women always fall for the "bad guy" and is there anything, even the slightest good in that. The acting is strong. Both Outi Mäenpää and Ria Kataja deliver their roles fantastically. It is no wonder that Mäenpää won a Finnish Oscar, Jussi-statue for her powerful performance. The soundtrack made by Eicca Toppinen from Apocalyptica supports the Finnish, snowy and melancholic scenery superbly. Very recommendable Finnish drama!
