The Frozen Chosen

The Frozen Chosen is a warm and engaging documentary released in the year 2016. It chronicles an unusual yet endearing pastime which brings families together in the chill of the Wisconsin winters. Skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating are the activities that naturally come to mind when considering winter sports in such icy conditions, however, in a small town in Northern Wisconsin, things are slightly different. It's winter on the Sturgeon Bay, and it's ice fishing season - it can be fun, heartwarming, and, arguably, a bit peculiar. That’s where stalwart enthusiasts of this fascinating, frigid fascination take center stage.

The film charmingly underlines the unique aspects of ice fishing in these areas - it’s more than just a hobby, it’s a beloved tradition that has spanned generations and formed an important part of communal societal fabric. Captured with a delightful observational style, the director, Steve Boettcher, and producers including Mike Trinklein, paint a vivid picture not only of the stark, snowy landscapes, but also of the people who make this bone-chilling activity a heartfelt tradition year after year.

With the main focus set in the eccentric ice fishing community surrounding Sturgeon Bay, the film highlights the significance of the sport which is a way of life for some and a seasonal obsession for others. It showcases a peculiar setting where hundreds of ice shanties pop up on the frozen expanse of the bay each winter.

One of the underlying themes of The Frozen Chosen is the crucial generational bonds that are forged, tempered, and tested on the icy expanses. The film centers around two families, the Neinas and the Kosioreks, devoted to this old-school, homespun tradition, who are stalwarts at this freezing indulgence, and showcases their commitment to transferring their passion to the next generation.

The first is the Neinas family who have made ice fishing their tradition for more than thirty years. Ken Neinas, the patriarch, is a dedicated ice fisherman who enjoys nothing more than sharing his love for this endeavor with his young granddaughter, Alyssa. Despite her tender age, Alyssa is an ardent enthusiast who has fully embraced her family’s wintry pastime, learning the ropes with infectious enthusiasm, displaying the intriguing transmissions of traditions through generations.

The second family, the Kosioreks, also shares a similar passion. Rich Kosiorek also aims to instill his love for ice fishing in his own children, overcoming various challenges in order to ensure the tradition endures for another generation. The dramatic Wisconsin landscape provides the perfect backdrop to this heartfelt family saga where simple moments create lasting family bonds.

Apart from these families, viewers will also get to know various other residents, their thrilling tales, and their exhilarating experiences lending a richness to the narrative, presenting the viewer with different perspectives and narratives around this atypical hobby.

The Frozen Chosen doesn't just share stories of the cold outdoors, but also sensitively explores the warm relationships, bonds, and traditions that thrive in such harsh and snowy conditions. The film beautifully balances the thrilling excitement of the activity together with the deep-rooted traditions of familial bonds and local culture.

Featuring beautiful cinematography, the film truly captures the splendor and serenity of the frosted landscapes and the ice as well as the beautiful idiosyncrasies of this small town in Wisconsin. It grasps the community's camaraderie and explores the passionate enthusiasm and dedication towards a relatively unnoticed but immensely cherished tradition.

The Frozen Chosen thus provides a captivating peek into this unconventional world of ice fishing. Presenting a heartening narrative account of community ties, family traditions, the joy of simple pastimes, and a pint-sized enthusiast embracing the lessons from her grandfather, it’s honest, intimate and deeply humanizing. The humor, hope, and heart showcased in The Frozen Chosen are sure to charm and connect with audiences who embrace and value passion, tradition, and community spirit. It's a captivating story about people, their passions, their homespun traditions, their bondings, and the magic of winter landscapes. The film is an enchanting ode to the human bonding and resilience amidst the frozen topography of a small Wisconsin town.