Silver Skates

Silver Skates (2020) is a Russian Christmas romance you can watch online on iFILM. It's the eve of the year 1900, and the frozen rivers and canals of St. Petersburg have turned into one glittering rink. Skating across it is Matvey, a lamplighter's son whose entire inheritance is his late father's silver-plated skates.

When his father falls ill and Matvey loses his job, desperation pushes him into a gang of nimble thieves who work the festive crowds on blades. At one high-society skating party he collides with Alisa, the daughter of a powerful official who dreams of chemistry and science rather than the advantageous marriage her family has arranged. Their worlds were never meant to meet. But the ice levels everyone, and the two reach for each other across a chasm of class, danger and family secrets.

Director Mikhail Lokshin stages a lavish period fairy tale: a snow-covered turn-of-the-century capital, grand balls, skate-borne chases and camerawork that's a pleasure to watch. The large ensemble features Fyodor Fedotov, Sonya Priss, Aleksey Guskov, Yura Borisov and Yuriy Kolokolnikov. Netflix picked it up and streamed it worldwide, a rare reach for a homegrown Russian production. It suits anyone craving a handsome family adventure for the holidays. Stream Silver Skates (2020) online on iFILM.