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Title: Frozen River
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, there is some strong language and mild violence. Recommended for ages 14 and up. |
In the opening shot of “Frozen River” we see a woman sitting in a frostbitten car smoking a cigarette while tears run down her eyes. She’s bare foot, with wrinkles under her eyes and it’s obvious life has dealt her a rough blow. Afterwards she puts out her cigarette and walks into her small trailer to put a big smile on for her young son. No need for him to worry as well. This is Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo in an Oscar-nominated role), who works as a part-time cashier at the local $0.99 store. Her husband left with their rent money for a new house, presumably to go gamble it away. In an attempt to hunt him down just leads her to Lila (Misty Upham), a Mohawk who found her husbands abandoned car near a bus station. Turns out Lila is a smuggler and - seeing that she’s in desperate need of money - reluctantly agrees to help with the smuggling.
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That this is wrong becomes a moot point after awhile. Her jerk of a boss won’t promote her to full time, and all she has to eat at the house is popcorn and Tang. Besides, director Courtney Hunt (in her directorial debut) is more interested in what drives people to involve themselves in such illegal operations. These are good people and there is no dispute about that, but life has dealt them such a blow they feel they don’t have any choice but to resort to this. Both women have kids. Lila’s son was stolen from her at the hospital by her mother-in-law, and unless she can get enough money she can’t get her son back. Both women also share a common trait that they look rough and anti-social on the outside when the reality is they are emotionally beaten down and tired.
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There is little help to be found and the film forces you to ask yourself what you would do in a similar situation. There is a Border Patrol Officer who seems to know that Ray is doing something wrong, but he keeps quite about the situation until it comes to public attention. One wonders if he knows what she’s going through. I can’t honestly say this is a movie that will inspire you. It will make you think to be sure, to contemplate on issues that are deep shades of grey, but what you find I cannot promise to be good. “Frozen River” is a stunning debut from a film maker I look forward to seeing more from, and though I may never watch this film again it will likely be something I never forget.
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