If you’ve spent any time scrolling through the endless catalogs of streaming services lately, you’ve probably noticed a trend. Queer cinema is finally getting its due, but it often falls into two camps: the devastatingly tragic or the sugary sweet. Then there is Breaking the Ice, a 2023 Austrian film (originally titled Breaking the Ice or Sterne unter der Stadt in some contexts, but most commonly known internationally by its English title) that manages to skate right down the middle. It’s gritty. It’s cold. Honestly, it’s one of the most authentic depictions of the pressure-cooker environment of competitive sports I’ve seen in years.
Directed by Clara Stern, the movie follows Mira, a young woman who basically runs her family’s vineyard by day and spends her nights as the captain of an all-female ice hockey team. If that sounds like a lot of responsibility, it is. Mira is tightly wound. She’s the kind of person who thinks if she stops moving for a single second, her whole world—and her family’s struggling legacy—will just shatter.
The Raw Reality of the Breaking the Ice Movie
Most sports movies rely on the "big game" trope. You know the one. The underdog team finds a way to win against all odds in the final thirty seconds. While the Breaking the Ice movie features hockey heavily, it isn't really a sports movie in the traditional sense. It’s a character study about what happens when you’re forced to grow up too fast.
The introduction of Theresa, a new player who joins the team, is the catalyst for everything. Theresa is the opposite of Mira. She’s spontaneous. She’s loud. She actually seems to enjoy life, which is a concept totally foreign to Mira. Their chemistry isn't just about romance; it's about the friction between someone who lives by the rules and someone who doesn't even know where the rulebook is.
What makes Stern’s direction so effective is the atmosphere. You can almost feel the chill coming off the ice and the damp air of the Austrian countryside. It’s not a postcard-perfect version of Europe. It’s grey, it’s industrial in parts, and it’s lived-in.
Why Mira’s Internal Struggle Hits Hard
Mira isn’t just dealing with hockey. Her grandfather is slipping into dementia, a subplot that adds a heavy layer of grief to the film. She spends her time trying to keep him tethered to reality while her mother seems to have checked out emotionally.
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- The film captures the specific weight of "the eldest daughter" syndrome.
- It highlights the physical toll of high-level athletics, showing the bruises and the exhaustion rather than just the glory.
- There's a subtle exploration of gender identity and performance within the hyper-masculine space of a hockey rink.
Honestly, the way the film handles the grandfather's storyline is heartbreaking. He often wanders off, and Mira is the one who has to find him. It mirrors her role on the ice—always the protector, always the one looking out for everyone else while ignoring her own needs. When Theresa enters the picture, she forces Mira to look at herself, not as a provider or a captain, but as a person.
Breaking the Ice and the Evolution of Queer Cinema
We’ve moved past the era where every queer movie needs to be a "coming out" story where the climax is telling the parents. In the Breaking the Ice movie, Mira’s sexuality isn't treated as a shocking plot twist or a source of immense shame. It just is. The conflict comes from her inability to let go of control, not from her attraction to women.
This feels like a much-needed evolution in filmmaking. We're seeing stories where LGBTQ+ characters exist in high-stakes environments—like competitive sports—where their identity is part of the tapestry, not the entire loom. Clara Stern, who also wrote the screenplay, clearly understood that the tension between Mira and Theresa needed to be grounded in their different worldviews.
Theresa represents a freedom that Mira is terrified of. There’s a scene where they go out at night, away from the rink and the vineyard, and you can see the visible discomfort Mira feels when she isn't "on duty." It’s awkward. It’s kind of painful to watch, but it’s so real.
The Technical Side: Sound and Cinematography
If you watch this movie, pay attention to the sound design. The "clink" of the skates on the ice, the heavy breathing in the locker rooms, and the silence of the vineyard at night all work together to build Mira's claustrophobic world.
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Johannes Hoss, the cinematographer, uses a lot of tight shots on Mira’s face. You see the micro-expressions—the tightening of her jaw, the way her eyes dart around when she’s overwhelmed. It’s a masterclass in "show, don't tell." We don't need a monologue about how stressed she is; we see it in the way she grips her hockey stick.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
I’ve seen some reviews suggesting the ending is too open-ended or that it doesn't provide a "happily ever after." But that’s the point. Life doesn't wrap up in a neat bow just because you won a game or kissed the girl.
The Breaking the Ice movie is about the start of a thaw. It’s not about the ice completely melting. By the time the credits roll, Mira hasn't solved all her problems. Her grandfather is still sick. The vineyard is still a lot of work. But she’s learned that she doesn't have to carry it all alone. She’s learned how to breathe.
That’s a much more honest conclusion than a fake "perfect" ending. It respects the audience’s intelligence. It acknowledges that healing is a slow process, much like the changing of seasons in the mountains where the film is set.
How to Approach the Themes in Breaking the Ice
If you’re a filmmaker, a writer, or just someone who loves deep-dive cinema, there are a few takeaways from this film that are worth noting.
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Focus on Internal Stakes
The external goal (winning hockey games) is secondary to Mira’s internal goal (finding herself). When writing or analyzing stories, look for where those two things intersect. The hockey games are more exciting because we know what they represent for Mira’s mental state.
Environment as Character
The ice rink isn't just a setting; it’s a metaphor for Mira’s frozen emotions. The vineyard represents the roots and traditions holding her back. Use your setting to tell the story so your dialogue doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting.
Nuanced Performance
Alina Schaller, who plays Mira, gives an incredible performance. She manages to be likable even when her character is being cold or difficult. If you’re a fan of character-driven dramas like Portrait of a Lady on Fire or God’s Own Country, this movie belongs on your watchlist.
Authenticity Over Tropes
Avoid the "triumph of the spirit" cliches. Sometimes, the triumph is just showing up the next day. The Breaking the Ice movie succeeds because it feels like a slice of someone’s actual life, messy parts and all.
To get the most out of this film, watch it on the biggest screen possible to appreciate the cinematography, and maybe keep a blanket nearby—the atmosphere is so effective you’ll feel the chill. Look for it on festival circuits or specialized streaming platforms like MUBI or Kanopy, where international gems like this often live. Stop looking for a standard sports flick and start looking for a story about what it actually means to break free from the expectations of others.