The Visions du Réel festival which began on Friday, is now in full swing. Films are being shown from morning through to late evening at various venues in Nyon and Gland. There is also a temporary festival bar and restaurant for both film-goers and members of the public in the centre of the festival (next to the Salle Communale) in Nyon.
This year, as in previous years, Trish Thalman, an American living in Gland, will be reviewing a selection of films at the festival. Here is her review of 'Eismädchen' (Ice Girls) about life at the ice rink in modern times, and what it now takes to win competitions.
This film will be screened today Sunday 19th April at 18:00 at the Capitole Fellini cinema in Nyon. Info and tickets here
Figure Skating – More Than Sequins.
Having spent some years at an ice rink trying to perfect my toe-loops and compulsory 'figure 8's' (no longer compulsory), I looked forward to seeing 'Eismädchen' (Ice Girls) by Lin Sternal about life at the ice rink in modern times, and what it now takes to win competitions. It's still not easy!
Lin Sternal has made a lovely, honest film about a mother and her two daughters, who are currently spending their lives dedicated to training and competitions at the Ice Sport Center in Oberstdorf, Germany, where the famous Gold Medal Ice Dancers 'Torvill and Dean' spent many years training.
It's about competition, tough emotions and the balance between a mother – who wanted to be an ice skater, and was for a few years – and her two daughters who are very good skaters. One is better than the other – for reasons of confidence and talent, and the other, lack of confidence who has to work harder to capitalise on her skills . Both have different styles of skating because of their physical stature, level of interest, competence and personalities.
The mother lovingly encourages both girls in different ways – without being an obvious 'pushy-mother', but her goal is to have her girls win competitions. Full Stop! The sisters encourage each other and take pride in their skating and each other's skating. Both are teenagers, thus, tempers, emotions and 'non communication' days occur.Practices and trainings are recorded with latest technology: iPads and video cameras for instant feedback.
The women who train the girls have different approaches, and help to prepare 'winning' routines and get the best out of the girls. They are the second-level of influence and support to the 'triangle'. They are also dedicated to producing winners.
The girls go to ballet classes to give them strong backs and hips,lithe legs and arms. Physio therapists are part of the routine to keep muscles and tendons working without to much stretch or damage.
Choice ofright-colour/right-cut outfits for the up-coming National Competition are viewed and purchased on-line. That's when we see the sequins and sparkles. The rest is hard work, tension, homework, and continual training and exercises, with some tough 'telling off' by the trainers, to get the girls to improve their skills.
Mostly the soft-focus, tele-photo shots of the faces of the mother and sisters sitting in the stands living the 'flash seconds' of smiles, dismay or anxiety due to afall or missed movement tells the real story of what the film is about......the falling down on your bottom, missing a jump, and gutty grindof working to make it to the top in Figure Skating.
The story continues, in that the younger sister is now a nationally ranked Junior Figure Skating Champion in Germany.Watch the next generation ofFigure Skaters at the EuropeanIce Skating Championships. Meantime, I'll stick to the temporary ice rinks we have during the Winter.
Photo below - Trish Thalman