COL063

2011

Other

The enigmatic figure known only as "Ice Skater" appears briefly in Chris Marker's 1983 film, Sans Soleil (Sunless), sometimes translated as "Other". She is not a central character, and her background is never explicitly revealed.

The film shows her performing graceful figure skating routines in a public ice rink in Japan. Her captivating movements, filmed in a dreamlike and ethereal style, symbolize themes of memory, time, and cultural displacement prevalent throughout Marker's essay film.

Beyond her on-screen presence, little is known about the actual woman. She isn't identified by name, and her role remains purely symbolic. Her performances, set against the backdrop of Japanese society, contribute to the film's overall meditation on the interplay between cultures, technology, and the human experience.

The Ice Skater is less a person than a fleeting image, a potent and ambiguous representation of beauty and grace within the context of Marker's complex cinematic tapestry.