The Breaking Ice screened at Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023 and these are the three scenes that remain the highlight of the film.

&#8216;The Breaking Ice&#8217; at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe

When depression hits you, it’s like breaking a block of ice. The fissures and
cracks appear first, turning you melancholic. Then, as the pressure increases,
the first break happens, followed by the rest. Anthony Chen’s The Breaking Ice (
燃冬) picks up its three central characters in the latter stages when they are
close to a breakdown and more. Spanning over a weekend, the romantic drama sets
up a narrative that will leave you reflecting and relating Nana, Haofeng, and
Han Xiao’s journeys.

The highlights of the movie that screened at the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023,
however, are a handful of scenes that show the core of its themes.

Disclaimer: Major spoilers ahead


THREE STANDOUT SCENES IN THE BREAKING ICE

Selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Festival 2023, Chen’s
movie is as non-traditional as it gets. Without the cliched cheerful person
saving the depressed one or excessive substance abuse, The Breaking Ice
skillfully captures the essence of depression in three different aspects. With
Nana, it’s an incident that ended her Ballerina Career. For Haofeng, it’s
nothing in particular because sometimes a chemical imbalance in your brain is
enough to pull you down. In Han Xiao’s case, it is feeling stuck in
life—something many can relate to.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

With such nuanced storytelling, it is difficult to cherry-pick any one standout
scene from the movie that defines it. But the following three are the best part
of the film.

1. THE NIGHTCLUB SEQUENCE

There is no one way of experiencing depression; there are at least three ways.
Chen’s The Breaking Ice showcases these three in its nightclub scene. After
missing his flight back home, Haofeng (Liu Haoran) decides to hang out with Nana
(Zhou Dongyu), and Han Xiao (Qu Chuxiao) for the weekend. The trio hit a local
nightclub where soon, Nana and Han Xiao start dancing, leaving Haofeng alone at
the table.

For the next few minutes, we see three different responses to a low point in the
depression journey through the central character. Having stayed back at the
table, not wanting to dance, Haofeng starts chewing ice, as he usually does
before letting the droplets from the ice drop onto his face. He soon breaks down
amidst the crowd that is having a fun time dancing.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

Meanwhile, Nana has numbed her feelings and is surrendering to music to escape
the thoughts, memories, and regrets that haunt her. It is not unlike people who
would rather stay numb than feel their feelings at their lowest. Han Xiao, on
the other hand, represents those who decide to take charge and follow their
heart’s desire: In his case, that was trying to kiss Nana, for whom he held a
torch for years.

ALSO READ: The Swan (2023): Review and Ending Explained 
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-netflix-original-news-the-swan-wes-anderson-review-and-ending-explained-ralph-fiennes-rupert-friend/]

Not only is this scene framed perfectly, but the mood set by it will hit you
like a wrecking ball.

2. THE ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR

A suicidal Haofeng has envisioned killing himself multiple times during the
runtime of the show. So his intentions were pretty clear when he requested to
see Heaven Lake atop the Baekdu Mountain: He wanted to jump off the peak.
Failing to reach the peak, he tries to jump off a cliff on the way. What stops
him is Han Xiao screaming out for Nana’s safety. When Haofeng reaches the scene,
he sees Nana standing still as a giant bear walks up to the trio. 

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

While they feared for their lives, the bear gently nuzzled against Nana and
rubbed its nose against the gash on her ankle—something tied to her painful
past. Something breaks in her seeing the compassion shown by the animal and she
starts breaking down. A major brownie point for this scene is the cinematography
itself, with the frames looking ever so beautiful. 

ALSO READ: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Director Edward Berger Thanks
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Upon Best International Feature Film Win
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-director-edward-berger-thanks-netflixs-ted-sarandos-upon-best-international-feature-film-win/]

But the highlight is the emotional turning point. The moment ends up being for
all three characters, as we later see in the final minutes of the movie.

3. THE BREAKING ICE FINAL ACT

As with any normal final act, The Breaking Ice’s final minutes draw to a close
each of its three character’s stories. There is no miracle cure for Nana and
Haofeng as a result of their whirlwind romance, and neither is there a delayed
realization of feelings between Nana and Han Xiao. Instead, you get an ending
that is as realistic as it gets about the depression cycle: Baby steps to work
through the trauma.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

For Haofeng, who was always wound up in himself and ready to kill himself, the
final act was about finding the strength to be vulnerable. This is visible in
the way he and Nana have a tender moment in the shower. Meanwhile, for Nana, who
was constantly pushing people away, the end was an attempt at reconnecting with
her estranged family. Han Xiao, on the other hand, like in the club scene,
decided to take charge and set out to live the life he dreamed of by leaving
Yang City.


FINAL TAKE

Jio MAMI 2023 had over 200+ movie screenings with some like Monster showing the
importance of perspective
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-monster-at-jio-mami-two-thousand-twenty-three-hirokazu-kore-eda-gives-a-masterclass-on-the-power-of-perspectives/]
and others leaving you in tears. But The Breaking Ice is different from them
all. In a world teeming with works talking about depression and mental health,
Anthony Chen’s film stands out for its subtle realism in the backdrop of a fun
weekend and picturesque Yanji City. It is a movie cinephiles should not avoid
when Strand Releasing releases it in North America in late 2023 or early 2024.

ALSO READ: ‘Oppenheimer’ Climax Breakdown: What Cillian Murphy’s Last Line in
the Christopher Nolan Movie Meant
[https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-oppenheimer-climax-breakdown-what-cillian-murphys-last-line-in-the-christopher-nolan-movie-meant/]

Parvathi Ajith

Comment

&#8216;The Breaking Ice&#8217; at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe - Netflix Junkie

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Parvathi Ajith is a Hollywood news reporter and Editor at Netflix Junkie. So much is her love for reporting that she started her journey with an internship at New Indian Express where she covered all the hot news of the entertainment industry. With her prior experience of being an editor, she aims to do interviews and reviews here in NJ. While writing is her first love, there exists a second which is crime thrillers. Taking her love forward, Parvathi became a published author with her book 'The Rathores'.  Apart from this, she is always reading a crime thriller in her free time or just simply singing in between serious meetings that cheer the spirits of those around her. On a day she wants to relax, you will see her watching Demon Slayer, Brooklyn-99, or her all-time favorite, Runaway Bride.

https://netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-the-breaking-ice-at-jio-mami-2023-three-scenes-in-the-anthony-chen-movie-that-will-leave-you-in-awe

&#8216;The Breaking Ice&#8217; at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe - netflix-junkie

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When depression hits you, it’s like breaking a block of ice. The fissures and cracks appear first, turning you melancholic. Then, as the pressure increases, the first break happens, followed by the rest. Anthony Chen’s The Breaking Ice ( 燃冬) picks up its three central characters in the latter stages when they are close to a breakdown and more. Spanning over a weekend, the romantic drama sets up a narrative that will leave you reflecting and relating Nana, Haofeng, and Han Xiao’s journeys.
The highlights of the movie that screened at the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023, however, are a handful of scenes that show the core of its themes.
Disclaimer: Major spoilers ahead
<h2>Three standout scenes in The Breaking Ice</h2>
Selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Festival 2023, Chen’s movie is as non-traditional as it gets. Without the cliched cheerful person saving the depressed one or excessive substance abuse, The Breaking Ice skillfully captures the essence of depression in three different aspects. With Nana, it’s an incident that ended her Ballerina Career. For Haofeng, it’s nothing in particular because sometimes a chemical imbalance in your brain is enough to pull you down. In Han Xiao’s case, it is feeling stuck in life—something many can relate to.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-147473 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0.png" alt="" width="1505" height="840" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0.png 1505w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-300x167.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-1024x572.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-768x429.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-370x207.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-800x447.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-20x11.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-185x103.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-740x413.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-400x223.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-0-86x48.png 86w" sizes="(max-width: 1505px) 100vw, 1505px" />
With such nuanced storytelling, it is difficult to cherry-pick any one standout scene from the movie that defines it. But the following three are the best part of the film.
<h4>1. The nightclub sequence</h4>
There is no one way of experiencing depression; there are at least three ways. Chen’s The Breaking Ice showcases these three in its nightclub scene. After missing his flight back home, Haofeng (Liu Haoran) decides to hang out with Nana (Zhou Dongyu), and Han Xiao (Qu Chuxiao) for the weekend. The trio hit a local nightclub where soon, Nana and Han Xiao start dancing, leaving Haofeng alone at the table.
For the next few minutes, we see three different responses to a low point in the depression journey through the central character. Having stayed back at the table, not wanting to dance, Haofeng starts chewing ice, as he usually does before letting the droplets from the ice drop onto his face. He soon breaks down amidst the crowd that is having a fun time dancing.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-147457 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318.png" alt="" width="1920" height="940" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318.png 1920w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-300x147.png 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-1024x501.png 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-768x376.png 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-1536x752.png 1536w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-370x181.png 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-800x392.png 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-185x91.png 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-740x362.png 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-20x10.png 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-400x196.png 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-1600x783.png 1600w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1-e1699102107318-98x48.png 98w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Meanwhile, Nana has numbed her feelings and is surrendering to music to escape the thoughts, memories, and regrets that haunt her. It is not unlike people who would rather stay numb than feel their feelings at their lowest. Han Xiao, on the other hand, represents those who decide to take charge and follow their heart’s desire: In his case, that was trying to kiss Nana, for whom he held a torch for years.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-netflix-original-news-the-swan-wes-anderson-review-and-ending-explained-ralph-fiennes-rupert-friend/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Swan (2023): Review and Ending Explained </a>
Not only is this scene framed perfectly, but the mood set by it will hit you like a wrecking ball.
<h4>2. The encounter with a bear</h4>
A suicidal Haofeng has envisioned killing himself multiple times during the runtime of the show. So his intentions were pretty clear when he requested to see Heaven Lake atop the Baekdu Mountain: He wanted to jump off the peak. Failing to reach the peak, he tries to jump off a cliff on the way. What stops him is Han Xiao screaming out for Nana’s safety. When Haofeng reaches the scene, he sees Nana standing still as a giant bear walks up to the trio. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-147456 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice.jpg" alt="" width="1240" height="744" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice.jpg 1240w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-300x180.jpg 300w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-1024x614.jpg 1024w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-768x461.jpg 768w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-370x222.jpg 370w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-800x480.jpg 800w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-20x12.jpg 20w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-185x111.jpg 185w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-740x444.jpg 740w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-400x240.jpg 400w, https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-80x48.jpg 80w" sizes="(max-width: 1240px) 100vw, 1240px" />
While they feared for their lives, the bear gently nuzzled against Nana and rubbed its nose against the gash on her ankle—something tied to her painful past. Something breaks in her seeing the compassion shown by the animal and she starts breaking down. A major brownie point for this scene is the cinematography itself, with the frames looking ever so beautiful. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-director-edward-berger-thanks-netflixs-ted-sarandos-upon-best-international-feature-film-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;All Quiet on the Western Front&#8217; Director Edward Berger Thanks Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Upon Best International Feature Film Win</a>
But the highlight is the emotional turning point. The moment ends up being for all three characters, as we later see in the final minutes of the movie.
<h4>3. The Breaking Ice final act</h4>
As with any normal final act, The Breaking Ice’s final minutes draw to a close each of its three character’s stories. There is no miracle cure for Nana and Haofeng as a result of their whirlwind romance, and neither is there a delayed realization of feelings between Nana and Han Xiao. Instead, you get an ending that is as realistic as it gets about the depression cycle: Baby steps to work through the trauma.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-147463 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Breaking-Ice-3-e1699102532984.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />
For Haofeng, who was always wound up in himself and ready to kill himself, the final act was about finding the strength to be vulnerable. This is visible in the way he and Nana have a tender moment in the shower. Meanwhile, for Nana, who was constantly pushing people away, the end was an attempt at reconnecting with her estranged family. Han Xiao, on the other hand, like in the club scene, decided to take charge and set out to live the life he dreamed of by leaving Yang City.
<h2>Final take</h2>
Jio MAMI 2023 had over 200+ movie screenings with some like <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-monster-at-jio-mami-two-thousand-twenty-three-hirokazu-kore-eda-gives-a-masterclass-on-the-power-of-perspectives/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monster showing the importance of perspective</a> and others leaving you in tears. But The Breaking Ice is different from them all. In a world teeming with works talking about depression and mental health, Anthony Chen’s film stands out for its subtle realism in the backdrop of a fun weekend and picturesque Yanji City. It is a movie cinephiles should not avoid when Strand Releasing releases it in North America in late 2023 or early 2024.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-oppenheimer-climax-breakdown-what-cillian-murphys-last-line-in-the-christopher-nolan-movie-meant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Oppenheimer&#8217; Climax Breakdown: What Cillian Murphy&#8217;s Last Line in the Christopher Nolan Movie Meant</a>

The Swan (2023): Review and Ending Explained 

‘Oppenheimer’ Climax Breakdown: What Cillian Murphy’s Last Line in the
Christopher Nolan Movie Meant

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Director Edward Berger Thanks Netflix’s Ted
Sarandos Upon Best International Feature Film Win

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'The Breaking Ice' at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe - Netflix Junkie

Parvathi Ajith is a Hollywood news reporter and Editor at Netflix Junkie. So much is her love for reporting that she started her journey with an internship at New Indian Express where she covered all the hot news of the entertainment industry. With her prior experience of being an editor, she aims to do interviews and reviews here in NJ. While writing is her first love, there exists a second which is crime thrillers. Taking her love forward, Parvathi became a published author with her book 'The Rathores'. Apart from this, she is always reading a crime thriller in her free time or just simply singing in between serious meetings that cheer the spirits of those around her. On a day she wants to relax, you will see her watching Demon Slayer, Brooklyn-99, or her all-time favorite, Runaway Bride.

https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/Parvathi-Ajith.png

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&#039;The Breaking Ice&#039; at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe

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‘The Breaking Ice’ at Jio MAMI 2023: Three Scenes in the Anthony Chen Movie That Will Leave You in Awe

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