Wonder World of Ice

Group of Chinese ice sculptors arrive to the artificial scenery of the biggest ski resort, Levi, in Finland. Their job is to build an exotic experience park, Wonder World of Ice. Among with the sculptors comes Huang Shen, a young Chinese student, who's dreaming of a better job and a better income. Every day he dresses up as panda to attract more tourists from ski resort to visit their experience park. While the panda wanders around Levi village, Huang thinks about the status of Chinese in this modern world. Dark winter makes Huang to reflect the differences between Finnish and Chinese society and his homesickness grows.

At the ski resort two different realities collide: world created by tourism and the nature only seen in postcards. This reality of Finnish and Chinese is observed by the only native inhabitant of these mountains, the reindeer. The reindeer, mascot, memento and amusement device of Lapland listens silently for the growth forecasts of the ski resort. It prepares for the climate change by learning how to carry a golf bag.

Even the reindeer's future is depending on how high 1,3 billion Chinese can jump.

Information

Original name Keinolumikylä
Original language Finnish
Subtitles English
Genre Documentary film
Production year 2013
Production country Suomi
Running time 52 min
Trailer https://vimeo.com/75956930

Crew

Direction Ilkka Rautio (also scriptwriter)
Script Ilkka Rautio
Cinematography Jan-Niclas Jansson
Sound recording Ilkka Rautio
Sound design Svante Colerus
Composer Tuomas Norvio
Editing Ilkka Rautio
Graphic Anssi Kokkonen
Producer Pertti Veijalainen

Screenings and awards

Festivals

  • 25.10.2014 Fourteenth International Film Festival for Mountains, Extreme Sports and Adventures
  • 14.10.2014 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
  • 14.10.2014 National Film Schools Contest at XXI Minsk International Film Festival LISTAPAD
  • 20.06.2014 Baku International Tourism Film Festival (Bronze Award Category: TV-Reports)
  • 08.05.2014 Nordic Docs Film Festival
  • 03.05.2014 Trento Film Festival
  • 29.04.2014 Hot Docs International Film Festival
  • 08.03.2014 Tampere Film Festival / ELO "Kimpassa"
  • 30.01.2014 DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival

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