Cast and Crew of The Ice Tower

The Ice Tower

La tour de glace

'The Ice Tower' tells the story of Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan who, while observing the filming of a movie adaptation of the classic fairy tale The Snow Queen, becomes intrigued by the film's enigmatic star, Cristina. Much like the icy and powerful character she portrays, Cristina captivates Jeanne with her mysterious aura, drawing her into a world where reality and fantasy intertwine.

At its core, 'The Ice Tower' explores themes of obsession, identity, and the allure of the unattainable. Jeanne's fascination with Cristina reflects a deeper yearning for connection and understanding, particularly poignant given her status as an orphan. The film also delves into the mystique surrounding celebrity and storytelling, contrasting the superficiality of the cinematic world with the genuine emotions of those watching from the sidelines.

Upon its release, 'The Ice Tower' resonated with audiences who appreciated its nuanced take on fairy tales and coming-of-age narratives. It sparked conversations about the impact of media on young minds and inspired a renewed interest in retelling classic stories with a modern, psychological twist. The film's blend of enchanting storytelling and introspective character study has cemented its place as a memorable contribution to contemporary cinema.

Critics' Reviews

100
Femininity exerts a powerfully unsettling pull in the work of Lucile Hadžihalilović, a French auteur who’s never made a film of such coruscating, crystalline beauty as “The Ice Tower,” a hypnotic meditation on the enchantment that develops between an impressionable teenage runaway and the imperious film actress whose set she stumbles first onto, then into. Inspired in part by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, this glacially paced yet darkly dazzling fantasy opens as orphaned Jeanne flees her foster home and finds shelter in a film studio mid-production on an adaptation of Andersen’s fairy tale. On the set’s gleaming soundstage, Jeanne catches sight of the lead actress, Cristina, and is immediately spellbound by her frigid beauty and power. When Cristina takes an interest in her and casts her in a supporting role, Jeanne begins to idolize her as a figure of maternal, feminine, potentially even romantic obsession. The movie explores the dangerous mirroring between the two and the corrupting force of a false idol, weaving a hypnotic, trance-like melodrama charged with both beauty and menace.

Full Cast of The Ice Tower

Gaspar Noé as Dino

Gaspar Noé

Dino
Marion Cotillard as Cristina / The Snow Queen

Marion Cotillard

Cristina / The Snow Queen