The Ice Tower

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The Ice Tower

2025

1h 58m

Fantasy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan, witnesses the shoot for a film adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen, and she becomes fascinated by its star, Cristina, an actress who is just as mysterious and alluring as the Queen she is playing.

Critics Consensus

Gorgeous as frost and just as brittle, The Ice Tower occasionally wobbles as a narrative but largely excels as an atmospheric meditation on the creative process.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Dec 31

We're trying to discern what is real and what is fairytale, but we end up in this film that's about reality, and the reality is just extremely pedestrian.

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Matt Glasby

Empire Magazine

Dec 2

4/5

Dusted with magic — and more than a little malevolence — this is one of those films you want sink into on a cold winter’s night.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Dec 1

5/5

This is a seductive hinterland of dark and projected desires, and mostly, of viewing from the darkness.

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John Serba

Decider

1d

Be warned, The Ice Tower is aptly glacial in pace. It may test your patience at the same time it subtly and quietly rewards you.

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Pauline Adamek

FILMINK (Australia)

May 31

10/20

… a haunting if slow-moving exploration of loneliness, idolization, and the dangerous allure of fantasy.

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Dionar Hidalgo

Algo Más Que Cine

Mar 29

7/10

A hypnotic, visually stunning reimagining of a classic tale—enigmatic, haunting, and driven by two mesmerizing performances.

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MB C

@MB.Cinema 4d

The Ice Tower is a visually striking drama-fantasy that drifts between dream and illusion. It follows an orphan girl who steals another identity to escape reality, only to lose herself in the process. The film opens with a compelling premise about identity and self-discovery, but struggles to fully explore its depth. Despite its beautiful cinematography and haunting atmosphere, the slow pacing weakens the emotional impact. Strong performances add intrigue, yet the characters remain distant and underdeveloped. Elegant but hollow, it’s a film that captivates the eye more than the heart.

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The D

@ElDuderino852 Feb 21

Lingers after watching. Beautifully shot, this movie is indeed similar to a what another reviewer called a mix of Frozen and Mulholland Drive. Perhaps the most accessible of Hadžihalilović‘s films. Highly recommended if you are a fan of true cinema.

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Feb 16

nice visualy but narratively dead, two hours of wasting your life

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themanicexec

Nov 3

a film you don't just watch... you feel it, and let it envelope your entire being in the ethereal fever dream with all its beauty and tension that's as brittle as ice.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 4

Success in 1 hour and 58 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lucile Hadzihalilovic

Director

Marion Cotillard

Actor

Clara Pacini

Actor

August Diehl

Actor

Gaspar Noé

Actor

Lila-Rose Gilberti

Actor

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Synopsis

Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan, witnesses the shoot for a film adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen, and she becomes fascinated by its star, Cristina, an actress who is just as mysterious and alluring as the Queen she is playing.

Director: Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Producer: Muriel Merlin
Screenwriter: Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Geoff Cox
Distributor: Yellow Veil Pictures
Production Co: 3B Productions
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 58m