Boy and Lake

A Sakha boy sets out on a lyrical journey, crossing the boreal forest to catch fish in a secluded icebound lake. He performs the precise and strenuous task of cutting a fishing-hole into the ice as a meditative ritual, working through the exhaustion. The isolated surroundings give way to a dreamlike aura, where his reality shifts to a spiritual realm. The poetically composed imagery throughout the film infuses magic into this ancient Arctic tradition, while emotionally connecting with the boy. (Berlinale)