Ice

“ICE is the waking dream of a militant white urban group in New York in a not-too-distant future,” Peter Nau wrote in Filmkritik in April 1971. His piece is entitled “New York nous appartient”—like in Jacques Rivette’s Paris film, the conspirators in ICE make up a loose network, surfacing and then disappearing again. Set in a near future modelled on science fiction films such as Jean-Luc Godard’s ALPHAVILLE, the urban guerrillas prepare for the “spring offensive.” Fake newsreels report on political developments worldwide; a violent uprising against the oppressive “system” seems imminent. ICE began as a Newsreel project, but resistance within the group to the film’s distribution sealed Kramer’s decision to leave the collective. Amos Vogel writes in Film as a Subversive Art: “A microcosm of personalities, trends, and problems of today’s New Left projected into a very possible future, the film deals with regional offensives, assassinations, terror and counter-terror, dedication, weariness, betrayal.” (Volker Pantenburg)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 30.10. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.

Robert Kramer (selection): IN THE COUNTRY (1967), THE EDGE (1968), ICE (1969), MILESTONES (1975), SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN PORTUGAL (1977), GUNS (1980), NOTRE NAZI (1984), DOC'S KINGDOM (1987), X-COUNTRY. BEING A WEDDING BETWEEN US AND THE FARABUNDO MARTÍ LIBERATION FRONT IN PRESIDENT MONROE’S OLD HOUSE (1987/2022), ROUTE ONE/USA (1989), VIDÉOLETTRES ROBERT KRAMER / STEPHEN DWOSKIN (1991), WALK THE WALK (1996), CITÉS DE LA PLAINE (2000)