Thom Best
Canada 2004 35mm 108min. english o.v.

For the first time since his father’s death, Vaughn Nelson has gathered his childhood friends for a winter weekend at the family cabin. Hyped for two days of hockey, hunting and heavy drinking, the revellers are taken aback when Vaughn’s estranged brother, Trevor, shows up. The two have not spoken in years, and their terse dialogue is laden with the baggage of sibling rivalry and deeper family conflict. The equally unexpected appearance of Vaughn’s ex, Renée, further peels back the veneer of the bonding ritual. These uninvited guests act as catalysts for the revelation of a whole host of secrets which threaten the survival of long-treasured friendships. Forced on a journey of discovery, each man confronts who he has become and the friends he thought he knew. With astute direction and superb performances, The Ice Men is a poignant and compelling study of how men relate to one another.