The Reviewer Treads Carefully on Frozen River

Nominated for 2 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress, Melissa Leo, Frozen River is probably a film you haven't even heard of until recently. It's a small independent film that took home the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year. It's the story of 2 single mothers struggling to survive any way they can in the cold winter in Massena, NY, on the Canadian border.

Melissa Leo plays Ray, a single mother of 2 boys after her gambling addict husband abandons them and taking their money for a new trailer home. Lila is a widowed Mohawk, whose baby boy was kidnapped by her mother-in-law a year ago. They both have limited opportunities to make a living, until a chance meeting between the 2 women leads to an illegal venture to make extra money by smuggling illegal immigrants from Canada across the Reservation into the states. Things seem to be working out for the women, who become bonded in their experience, until one last run could cost them everything.

Frozen River is a gritty story with some good performances. Melissa Leo performance as Ray is Oscar worthy but not the best performance from an actress I have seen this past year (my money is going for Meryl, but I'm sure Kate will get it). Misty Upham, plays Lila. She's a hardened lady who has no love for "Whites" as she calls them. The actors who play Ray's boys are ok. I am giving one a break, as he is like 5 or 6. There were some uncomfortable moments for me watching these 2 women struggle, especially one particular run across the frozen river. There is the requisite foreshadowing in the film and you can tell what is coming but, the film didn't break down into hackneyed drama. My only gripes were; I didn't really buy the connection between the mother and older son and some of the convenience that occurred when just showing up to transport illegals to the same place seemed pretty easy. Otherwise, it's a solid film. The film is ably directed by Courtney Hunt.

I recommend Frozen River, as it is a unique compelling story and give it 3.5 stars.