Promotional material of Ice 2 Photo: Maoyan

A Russian winter sports film is set to hit cinemas in the Chinese mainland on Friday, as the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games approach.

Ice 2 (Russian: Лёд 2) is a 2020 Russian romantic musical sports film directed by Zhora Kryzhovnikov and a sequel to the film Ice (2018), a blockbuster that had the biggest opening day of the year in Russian film market. Ice 2 also did well in its home territory, grossing $19.59 million, according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.

The film tells the story of figure skater Nadya Lapshina and hockey player Sasha Gorin. The two marry, but Nadya passes away after giving birth to their baby. So Sasha shoulders the responsibility of a single father and painstakingly raises his daughter…

Many Chinese moviegoers who have seen the film at pre-screenings have complimented the acting in the film, especially that of the child star. 

"It's very meaningful to watch such a film near the coming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics," one Chinese netizen commented on Maoyan. 

"It's very rare to see a Russian film in theaters. I could feel the love and hard work of the nation from the movie. I was moved to tears by the father and daughter in the story," another netizen commented.  

Lead stars Aglaya Tarasova, Alexander Petrov and Mariya Aronova return from the first film and are joined by Nadezhda Mikhalkova and Yulia Khlynina.

According to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan, the film has grossed 73, 000 yuan ($ 11, 468) in the Chinese mainland from a combination of pre-sales and pre-screenings. 

The film is set to experience intense competition from US science fiction film The Matrix Resurrections, which also debuts on Friday. 

Chinese film Snow Dance starring Han Zheng and Wu Jing, which was set to be released on Friday, has been delayed, and the rescheduled date is yet to be settled, as it was announced on the film's Sina Weibo account on Wednesday.