The Ice Tower
15
Teenager Jeanne dreams of a life beyond her orphanage in a snowy mountain village. Carried by her desire to escape, she flees and takes refuge in a film studio housing a production of The Snow Queen.
It’s here that she first encounters Cristina, the star playing the title role. Captivated by her performance, Jeanne soon falls under Cristina’s enchanting spell, which endangers her initial quest for freedom.
With hazy 1970s visuals and a dizzying score, the film casts its own hypnotic spell and bolstered by an impressive debut from newcomer Clara Pacini, Innocence, Evolution and Earwig writer-director Hadžihalilović once again conjures up a world that seamlessly, and chillingly, blends dark fairytale with stark reality. (BFI)