On The Ice is a 2011 drama/thriller film directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean centered around two Iñupiaq teenagers in Barrow, Alaska, Qalli (Josiah Patkotak) and Aivaaq (Frank Qutuq Irelan). The story centers around a drunken scuffle with the rude James that leads to James' accidental death at Qalli's hands. When Qalli passes the blame off to Aivaaq, the two weave a web of lies around the death as Qalli's father Egasak hunts for the truth.
Tropes featured in On The Ice include:
- Accidental Murder: Qalli doesn't mean to kill James, instead meaning to keep James from killing Aivaaq. That, at least, was an accident. The lies around it, though...
- The Alcoholic:
- Aivaaq's mother drinks alcohol regularly, and is first encountered passed out.
- Aivaaq himself starts using drugs and alcohol to cope with his suffering.
- Asshole Victim: James is a misogynistic jerkass who Qalli kills while he tried to murder James. Even in death, he's rarely spoken well of.
- Digging Yourself Deeper: The more elaborate Qalli's lies get, the worse it becomes. Even Qalli points this out, wanting to bring back the body and give the "truth" to everyone— albeit, a falsified truth that would ruin Aivaaq's life.
- Dirty Coward: Qalli does everything he does to hide his role in James' accidental death, even inadvertently framing Aivaaq for James' death. Despite wanting to "come clean," he's only willing to bear the burden of his crimes if Aivaaq is taking the full responsibility.
- Downer Ending: Aivaaq walks off the ice, ready to take responsibility for the crime he didn't commit and... the film ends, Qalli desperately walking across the ice, having achieved nothing and possibly ruined his best friend's life.
- Dramatic Irony: The audience knows from the start that Qalli is responsible for James' death, leaving dozens of instances of Aivaaq taking the fall and James' family and girlfriend praising Aivaaq and Qalli. Particularly painful for James' girlfriend Michelle, since she believes herself responsible for James' death which Qalli reassures her she's wrong about, but can't convince her of.
- From Bad to Worse:
- Qalli's lies only make things worse, damaging their every chance to come clean until it ruins his and Aivaaq's lives.
- Hero Antagonist: Egasak is the antagonist, with Qalli having to hide the truth from him as he grows more hostile toward Aivaaq and tries to find the murderer.
- Hypocrite:
- Aivaaq is extremely offended when James insults his mother... after slinging misogynistic insults toward James for half a minute.
- Qalli is the first to try and make Aivaaq come clean— for a crime that Qalli committed, albeit by accident.
- Qalli's father Egasak does a lot of work to solve James' murder, and even calls out his wife for dismissing it due to his suspicion of Aivaaq— but when he discovers his son did the deed, he's emotionally stricken and helpless to do anything but try to help cover it up.
- Jerkass: James is a misogynistic, crude prick who emotionally abuses his girlfriend and insults Aivaaq. Michelle also reveals he eyes up much younger girls as well.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Aivaaq is a prick who womanizes, insults his mom, and objectifies his own girlfriend, but he also has a softer side that he shows to Qalli and his girlfriend Uvlu. At the end, he even decides to take the fall for Qalli, albeit bitterly.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Qalli eventually realizes the breadth of all he's done and tries to come clean, but it's too late, Aivaaq having decided to take the fall anyways.
- Parents as People: A major theme. James' father is initially angered, but eventually forgives Aivaaq, not knowing he was partially responsible for his son's death. Aivaaq's mother is an alcoholic, but proceeds to tell Qalli to cover up her son's deeds. Egasak is aggressive and blunt, but breaks his own morals at the end to spare his son the blame for his crime, only for Aivaaq to take the role out of his hands.
- Then Let Me Be Evil: Aivaaq spends so long being presumed responsible for James' death, even beginning to consider himself so, that he decides to take the fall anyways, abandoning his pregnant girlfriend and threatening Qalli with a rifle to ensure he's the one who goes down for it.
- Thicker Than Water: A very dark twist when Egasak, who genuinely loves his son, decides to hide the truth about James' death.
- Tragic Mistake: Qalli not telling Aivaaq the truth, that he killed James by accident, is the impetus for the disasters that overwhelm their lives.
- Sanity Slippage: Aivaaq gets increasingly drunk and deranged as he bears the burden for James' accidental death.
- Villain Protagonist: Qalli is a kid in over his head, but is nonetheless responsible for an Accidental Murder which he tries to hide from everyone, including his best friend.
