"On the Ice," by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, Is Set in Alaska Glinting white vistas and endless light blanket "On the Ice," a frigid drama that's tough to warm up to. Filmed on location in the close-knit community of Barrow, Alaska, this debut feature from its native son Andrew Okpeaha MacLean skillfully embeds a simple story within a complex, transitioning culture. So when three 17-year-old boys head out on a seal hunt, and only two return, the fallout strains bonds far deeper than those of the two survivors. While Qalli (Josiah Patkotak), sober and college-bound, withdraws into pained silence, his best friend, Aivaaq (Frank Qutuq Irelan), begins slowly to unravel. Already dealing with a pregnant girlfriend and an alcoholic mother, Aivaaq crumbles beneath the grief of the townspeople and the questions of local officials. But the spareness of the plot (adapted from Mr. MacLean's award-winning short film, "Sikumi") demands actors able to convey extreme emotional turmoil. And while Mr. Irelan and a few of the supporting players have some solid moments (the entire cast consists of nonprofessionals), the general vibe is too stilted to convince. Exploring the weight of secrets and the burdens of friendship, Mr. MacLean - substantially aided by Lol Crawley's gorgeously chilly photography - paints this isolated region with a refreshing lack of otherness, and the early scenes hum with infectious energy. As a native dance display bumps up against a hip-hop party, and English rubs shoulders with traditional Inupiaq, we see a people infiltrated by Western sounds and ambitions. And, unfortunately, blights. "On the Ice" is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Blood on the snow, and drugs on the mind.