Review of The Ice Storm (1997) by Viet Phuong N — 03 Oct 2014

The most dramatic Ang Lee's film I have ever watched. I was not prepared for such tension throughout the film, which was poured from one layer to another, from the boredom of living a life full of nothingness that was so extreme that "swing party" aka.

"switching wife feast" horribly became a real thing, the adolescent desire to discover life that is sometime deadly in the absence of proper attention and understanding from the "adults", and the destructive force of "malfunctioning" families upon their members.

If the "Father Knows Best" trilogy by Ang Lee proves that an awesome father can mend a broken family or its members' broken hearts, his "The Ice Storm" really points to the other direction - how a father can destroy his family by not understanding it endearing value to his very own life, by neglecting the fact that it is the happiness of his family, of his wife, of his children, that is the final goal of his life, not the boring work, not the adventurous extramarital affairs.

By that, this modern film seems to be much more "traditional" than his progressive, sensitive and clever "Father Knows Best" Trilogy. This film reminds me of "Ordinary People" (the film that is, unfortunately enough, better known for "stealing" the Oscar for Best Picture from the ever epic "Raging Bull") - another film about malfunctioning family, about the forever difficult relationship between parents and their coming-of-age children, especially in the presence of psychological trauma within the family.

But "The Ice Storm" is a superior film - a film about boredom that is somehow interesting to watch, a film about insensitive people that is somehow sensitive and attractive enough for the audience to feel and to reflect, a film about a real "ice storm" that really depicts the coldness among family members, but at the same time proves that they, still thrive for the warmness that still exists in their love for each other.

And I have not even mentioned the strange aspects of the film about existentialism, the peculiar American psychology of the 1970s, and the generation conflict and its inducing trauma (the original novel must be one hell of a literature piece)! In short, those who love Ang Lee's works may feel strange about this film, and it is indeed a strange film, even a tough film to watch (given the light-warmheartedness of the other Ang Lee's films).

But as meaningful as film can go, this is one hell of a meaningful film, an essential film for anyone wondering why we have to care for our family more than we care about ourselves.