There’s a frozen lake in Russia that each year engulfs a handful of autos piloted by daredevil drivers foolish enough to deem their vehicles light enough to ford thin ice. At least, I’m assuming that’s what happens. With no on-screen graphics or narrators to guide us, we’re left to wonder, “Why else would documentarian Victor Kossakovsky focus a battery of cameras on one location and wait for the worst to happen?” The potential mystery elements dry up after 15 minutes, and with them go all signs of dramatic engagement. Through compressed telephoto lenses, we spend what is easily the longest hour of the year watching ice floes churn and break apart. The screening invite dangled, “The film will be shown in theaters at 48 frames-per-second, double the typical 24 frames-per-second.” It wasn’t, but I’m told the Angelika will screen it at 48 fps. It might even play AMC Mission Valley at 96 fps! No matter: all of the clarity-enhancing gimmickry known to humankind couldn’t get me to sit through it again. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ANY INTENTION OF SEEING THIS, DO SO AT THE ANGELIKA, NOT THE GLAUCOMATOUS AMC FASHION VALLEY. (2019) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.