It’s not often that a movie manages to be both entertaining and thought provoking, but this sleeper international hit from Finland manages to surprise, astound, disturb and amuse in almost equal quantities. Released in 2007 and nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, “Musta jää” is now reaching Hong Kong’s shores on limited release.

The mise en scene, introduces us to bleak snow-filled Scandinavian landscapes, fading from a white screen to panoramic winter views. It is accompanied by a haunting composition that echoes throughout the film, reinforcing the sense of foreboding that permeates the plotline. A lone cyclist cuts through the countryside, moving towards the house where key protagonist, gynecologist Saara and her architect husband Leo are in the throws of passionate lovemaking. Their domestic bliss is short-lived. Leo’s fidelity is placed into question as the opening scenes unfold causing Saara, brilliantly portrayed by Finnish TV and film actress Outi Mäenpääthus, to come face to face with every wife’s worst nightmare. Her reaction to this dilemma lays the framework for a hard-hitting drama that refuses to fall into Hollywoodesque clichés.

Riia Kataja plays Tuli, the angelic looking architecture student who is carrying on an affair with Saara’s husband. Having confirmed the existence of the “younger woman”, Saara tracks her down, ready to confront her usurper. However, instead she finds herself drawn to her with a curiosity that fast develops into an obsession for understanding the girl that has become the object of her husband’s affection. Befriending her, she sets in course an action that will culminate in shocking consequences for them all.

Director Petri Kotwica coaxes multi-faceted performances from his actors, leaving us searching as to the true motivations and desires of their characters. Men are represented as weak-willed creatures, all unable to master their sexual impulses as the narrative quickly focuses in on its true driving force, the relationship between Saara and Tuli.

Black ice is a term used to describe a type of transparent ice, especially hazardous and invisible to the naked eye. Similarly, the mask that Saara creates hides her dark desire for vengeance. As Saara becomes closer to Tuli her lies weave an increasingly complex façade. Yet, even as the plotline unfolds we are left questioning whether she really is committed to her Machiavellian plan for revenge, or does she waiver as Tuli naively accepts her overtures of friendship.

It is the ability of the cast and director to create compelling yet plausible scenes that keeps our interest throughout the film. Kotwica has a talent for surprising the viewer, veering from humorous to shocking and back again in the flick an eye. Meriting a Category III rating for scenes of a sexual nature (one of which must be in the running for the most cringe-inducing moment in Finnish cinematic history) , Musta jää is a drama that manages to explore the nuances of adult relationships and capture the viewers attention without falling into melodrama.