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On Thin Ice

Name: On Thin Ice
Director: Aleksi Mäkelä
Released: 2022
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2022

Director

Aleksi Mäkelä

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

On Thin Ice is a visceral character study that prioritizes psychological tension over social breadth. While it lacks diversity in terms of race, gender, or sexual orientation, it succeeds in deconstructing the myth of the stable, productive citizen. The film replaces traditional notions of social order with a portrait of systemic and psychological fragmentation. It provides a complex, dark view of human ability to act under extreme pressure. Ultimately, the film functions as a localized, high-tension drama that explores the consequences of addiction and debt rather than diverse social identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does On Thin Ice have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It stays within a traditional drama framework that doesn't emphasize queer identity or non-cisgender experiences.

How does On Thin Ice portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses almost entirely on Jarna, a male protagonist. This narrow focus on a single male perspective limits the presence of strong female roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is On Thin Ice?

Limited

Set within a specific Finnish social context, the film reflects a homogeneous environment. There is no indication of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast.

How does On Thin Ice represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative critiques socio-economic stability by focusing on addiction and debt. It replaces traditional ideals of stability with a gritty, destabilizing look at systemic failure.

Does On Thin Ice include disability representation?

Fair

Jarna's amphetamine-induced paranoia and mental instability provide a harrowing look at mental health. The film explores internal psychological breakdowns rather than externalized mockery.

Present on Screen

The film provides a nuanced, harrowing look at mental health and altered states of consciousness.
The narrative effectively critiques systemic failures and the pressures of socio-economic instability.
It offers a complex, non-traditional view of human ability to act through its gritty moral lens.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity within its social setting.
The focus remains heavily centered on a singular male experience, limiting gender diversity.
There is no explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.

Official Synopsis

Temporarily homeless Jarna is in the deepest trouble of his life. Debtors have come to collect old drug debts and Jarna is given 24 hours to pay up, setting off a frantic, amphetamine fueled battle against time. Manic speed, fear of killers on his tail, paranoia and self-loathing over old wrongs eventually lead to a traffic accident. Jarna can no longer escape, his pace slows and he is on the verge of giving up. The moment has come when a near-lifetime of running must come to an end.

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