Ice Merchants shows what’s really important in life

Ice Merchants by João Gonzalez is a 14-minute silent film with computer animation that imitates hand-drawn animation. It uses metaphor to cover themes such as family, work, and, one could even say, the meaning of life. The film is phenomenal in all aspects, especially its morals and metaphors, and is nominated for best animated short film at the 2023 Oscars.

The film is engaging entertainment, but more importantly, it is thought-provoking and profound art. Many might question how engaging a short film without words could be. But, the music, sound effects, animation style and plot —which becomes very intense at the end— make a highly engaging film. Still, these aspects may not be enough to keep young viewers engaged and entertained, but that is not the primary purpose.

Ice Merchants is about the everyday lives of a father and son who live in isolation on the side of a mountain. They parachute from the mountain every day, gliding down to a town to sell their ice —their hats always fall off— and prepare to repeat this process the next day. Their lives are repetitive, but they find joy in the little things. However, one day, their lifestyle gets messed up for the worse.

Ice Merchants ends on a slight cliffhanger and is left relatively unfinished but this change of pace at the end, enhanced by awesome music and sound effects, is what will only further keep its message on the minds of and impact so many viewers. Additionally, all of the cool tidbits that come with the ice merchants’ lifestyle, making it hard to connect with in a literal sense, make it even more impressive that it is easy to connect with metaphorically.

People who connect with the everyday repetition or “grind” of work or school would like this film. In many ways, the film gives focus to the joy of life and portrays the repetition as worthwhile. However, people who connect with a repetitive lifestyle might also find Ice Merchants depressing if looking at it through a more critical lens. It really tells it like it is.

Although the film had many bright spots, one area lacking was the ending, where a physical representation serves as a metaphor for the habituation of their lives. More should be explained here, especially about a new character who saves the day, and the vibe of the ending completely contrasts with the rest of the film. Although this scene is confusing and wacky, it is still memorable and draws intrigue. Finally, as mentioned earlier, many might find this film depressing, and younger audiences may not feel engaged enough without the usual gimmicks of children’s animation. Hence, Ice Merchants is certainly not for everyone.

In general, though, the film is very successful as a piece of art conveying a message. The lesson of Ice Merchants is that although life can sometimes feel like a grind, it is best to find joy in the little things. This lesson is a fundamental one and has been told often in film before. Yet, this film feels like the quintessential representation, as it tells the story of life exactly how it is, knowing that it is not always filled with abundant positive experiences. Ice Merchants uses the bond between father and son to demonstrate the difference-maker in life —love— and is a piece of stimulating art, presenting its messages in whatever form the viewer interprets them, prompting viewers to think in the capacity of their own lives.