Frozen River (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Courtney Hunt

Writer:

Courtney Hunt (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (Venezuela)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Takes place in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec...

Plot Keywords:

New York State | Quebec

Awards:

10 wins & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Melissa Leo	...	Ray Eddy
Misty Upham	...	Lila
Michael O'Keefe	...	Trooper Finnerty
Mark Boone Junior	...	Jacques Bruno
Charlie McDermott	...	T.J.
James Reilly	...	Ricky
Dylan Carusona	...	Jimmy
Jay Klaitz	...	Guy Versailles
Michael Sky	...	Billy Three Rivers
John Canoe	...	Bernie Littlewolf
Nancy Wu	...	Chen Li - Chinese Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pun Bandhu	...	Chinese Man #1
Rajesh Bose	...	Pakistani Father
Joey Chanlin	...	Chinese Trafficker
Thahnhahténhtha Gilbert	...	Little Jake
Adam Lukens	...	Mitch
Betty Ouyang	...	Li Wei - Chinese Girl
Craig Shilowich	...	Matt
Gargi Shinde	...	Pakistani Mother

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | New Zealand:R16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva)

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Cohen Media Group

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Interesting that although the film takes place around Christmas, and on the New York-Canada border, and there's snow all over the place, and people are crossing frozen rivers, there's never any steam coming out of anyone's mouth when they talk.

Fantastic Film - and a rare glimpse into the reality of life in Indian Country

I caught a viewing of this tonight at the fantastic Traverse City Film Festival. The film was really fantastic. It is an indie flick very reminiscent of David Gordon Green's work (George Washington, All the Real Girls, etc) in pacing, cinematography, and the depth of character the director is able to elicit with profound minimalism. The plot centers around a Mohawk coyote who smuggles illegals across the St. Lawrence in the winter by driving back and forth between the Canadian and US segments of the Mohawk Reservation. The Mohawk are one of the few tribes that issue their own passports and directly challenge federal authority to regulate their border. Because the reservation covers areas in both nations there isn't much either side can do. For the Mohawk, sovereignty has real meaning, and they protect it fiercely.

The main character (aside from the Mohawk woman) is a white woman living in the area who's husband is a degenerate gambler and has taken off with the money she had saved to get them a new modular home. We never meet him, but nevertheless are given a good portrait of his and the family's struggles with his addiction. She needs $4k fast, stumbles into this smuggling business quite unexpectedly and decides its her only hope to avoid homelessness for herself and two kids. It's suspenseful, introspective, and the acting is top notch by everyone. I also loved how it provided a glimpse into one part of Indian Country few people even know exists, and treats the Indians as people rather than victims or otherwise attempts to cajole the audience into feeling something for them. They are just people. Just like us.

Highly recommended.