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Pascale Bussieres, Nigel Whitmey, Shelley Duvall, Frank Gorshin, Alice Krige ... see more see more... , R.H. Thompson , Ross McMillan , R.H. Thomson

Set in a blazing land where the sun ceaselessly shines, this dramatic fantasy examines love's darker aspects. After years of incarceration as a political prisoner, Peter Glahn (Nigel Whitney, who had ... read more read more...his name removed from the credits because another actor redubbed his lines) finally returns to Mandragora via ship. During the voyage, he encounters the glamorous Julianna (Pascale Bussieres), and falls deeply in love. Before he can act upon it, the radiant beauty mysteriously disappears. Once home he goes to see his sister Amelia (Shelley Duval) on the family ostrich farm. Poor homely Amelia is pining for the love of snake-in-the-grass Dr. Solti (R.H. Thompson) who is busy controlling the lives of Juliana and Zephyr (Alice Krige), a fisherman's widow. Solti toys with these women, but he is actually in love with a statue of Venus, a magical sculpture that seems strangely drawn towards Zephyr. Continuing frustration causes Amelia's smouldering passion for Solti to erupt into a conflagration of grisly violence. A challenging film from idiosyncratic Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

1,128 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Guy Maddin

Release Date: January 1, 1998

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DVD Release Date: April 2, 2002

Stats: 49 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (49)

  • 366weirdmovies
    February 9, 2009
    366weirdmovies
    A prisoner returns to his childhood home on an ostrich farm, and becomes involved with two mysterious women. An uninspiring protagonist in an uninvolving plot leads to a slow slog through a surrealist bog, thankfully livened by wonderfully stylized sets with brash, clashing colo... read morer schemes that make the film work (somewhat) as a kind of slide-show with dialogue.
  • gator681
    December 7, 2010
    gator681
    "Triumph of the Ice Nymphs" starts with Peter(Nigel Whitmey) returning home after four years in prison. So, it's no surprise that a mysterious beautiful woman(Pascale Bussieres) asks him to steal back some jewelry for her before disappearing into the night. On the home front, h... read moreis sister Amelia(Shelley Duvall) runs an ostrich farm which Cain Ball(Frank Gorshin) hopes to one day take over. But first there is Dr. Solti(R. H. Thomson) she is curious about.

    On the one hand, "Twilight of the Ice Nymphs" differs from a lot of Guy Maddin's other films in that it is less a pastiche this time, more an original world that did remind me a little of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." In fact, this might be his only film in full color. But that is not to say it is not as daft as anything else he has concocted.(Any movie with ostriches playing a prominent role is bound to be at least a little off kilter.) On the island where the movie is set, time does not flow naturally, as it seems to move in a circular motion, allowing elements of the supernatural to seep in.
  • whosinthenews
    January 30, 2011
    whosinthenews
    Twilight of the Ice Nymphs is an interesting visual and narrative concept that is unfortunately derailed by atrocious voice acting, which is due in part to the bad attempt at a modern Shakespearean fantasy. The actors involved play sincerely enough but can only do so much with a ... read morestory that haphazardly meanders from philosophical concept to concept without moving the story forward in any sort of meaningful or dramatic manner.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    June 17, 2008
    Doctor0Quinzel
    Saw it a long time ago, it was okay, it had a lot of weird sets and clothing and even the dialogue was unusual, it was okay, I didn't hate it.
  • cacutshaw
    January 30, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Great Guy Maddin weirdness. Hilarious and great eye candy. Must see for Maddin fans.

View All Twilight of the Ice Nymphs Reviews

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector
May 8, 2007
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

The line between romance and sex is blurred in this enthralling 1997 feature by Guy Maddin, whose overwhelming stylization unexpectedly produces an emotional and psychological authenticity. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
December 21, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View

It's an Aubrey Beardsley painting come to life by way of Maddin's unique rhythms, rich textures and surreal stories... Full Review

Wally Hammond
February 9, 2006
Wally Hammond, Time Out

Finally pretty tedious. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
July 14, 2003
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

I found it to be a pretentious drag, but its redeeming quality was that it was so novel. Full Review

Ron Wells
December 8, 2002
Ron Wells, Film Threat

If you like Maddin's other works, you'll probably dig this. If you don't, this film will not convert you to the cause. Full Review

Gemma Files
May 7, 2002
Gemma Files, eye WEEKLY

It's a surreal paradise where the summer sun never sets and the air is full of feathers drifting down from the Glahn family ostrich farm. Full Review

Bryant Frazer
May 7, 2002
Bryant Frazer, Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus

Becomes fairly tedious before he can wrap up, but director Guy Maddin's loopy conviction goes a long way. Full Review

Leonard Klady
March 26, 2009
Leonard Klady, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

April 25, 2003
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 25, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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