German title: Der Eissturm Francaise title: La tempête de glace Spain title: La tormenta de hielo Greek title: Η παγοθύελλα Russian title: Ледяной ветер Original title: The Ice Storm
Alternative titles: Ледена буря
Feature – USA Production year: 1996 Movie length: 95 minutes
Director: Ang Lee Writer: Rick Moody, James Schamus Cinematograph: Frederick Elmes Music: Mychael Danna
Movie description:
It is Thanksgiving, 1973, and the climate is changing, politically and physically. As the Watergate scandal unfolds in the background, the inhabitants of New Canaan, Conneticut begin to slip into an existentialist void, wherein social taboos are shattered on whims and the line between adult authority and juvenile irresponsibility is practically nonexistant. Focusing on two families in particular, the Hoods and the Carvers, â€?The Ice Storm« chronicles a brief period of rapid moral deterioration, as the characters shatter their social roles in pursuit of meaning and satisfaction, within an environment turned inwards on itself. As the narrative device of an â€?Ice Storm« builds up around them, the actions of the characters – including adultery, sexual experimentation, drug use and petty crimes – become increasingly unpredictable and impulsive. Once the storm hits, though, reality sinks in, and the severity of their situation becomes all to apparent in its bitter, and resonating aftermath.