Frozen River (review)
The stories of women are so disparaged -- or worse, ignored -- in our culture unless they have something to do with pleasing men, but here’s one that demands to be seen. The first feature from writer-director Courtney Hunt -- and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance, among other festival awards -- this is a frank and unrefined tale of women doing what it takes to survive, particularly when dominant, male-centered cultures have abandoned them. Two days before Christmas, Ray Eddy (the extraordinary Melissa Leo, who first made us take notice of her on Homicide: Life on the Street) finds herself coping with the sudden absence of her gambler husband, who has absconded with the money she’s been carefully hoarding to upgrade her little family -- which includes her sons, 5 and 15 -- to a double-wide trailer. When she encounters Mohawk Native Lila Littlewolf (Misty Upham, also riveting) -- who’s been deserted, in a way, by her husband, too, and then afterward by Mohawk values that esteem sons over daughters -- the two fall into a moneymaking scheme to ferry illegal immigrants by car across the deep-frozen St. Lawrence River that creates the U.S./Canadian border in northern New York State. Fascinating is how Hunt’s story straddles moralities, gender motivations, and ideas of poverty and despair in such a way that you’re not sure, by the end, what’s “right” and what isn’t. Watch Frozen River online using LOVEFiLM's streaming service. Disqus commentsblog comments powered by Disqus |
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Thu Aug 28 08, 6:37PM categories: reviews > 2008 theatrical releases permalink 2 pre-Disqus comments Disqus comments infoMPAA: rated R for some language viewed at a public multiplex screening official site IMDB tip jarshare
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pre-Disqus comments
posted by Amy S. (Sun Sep 21 08, 2:49PM)
This was an impressive, thought-provoking film. People should definitely seek it out.
posted by Max L (Sun Feb 22 09, 6:05PM)
I just watched it. This movie was one of those movies that did'nt seem like a movie , if you know what I mean. It was so real. It sorta reminds me of the Wrestler , with basic down to earth people.
I do'nt think I ever saw Melissa Leo in any movie before, but She should have been nominated . The supporting cast were right on too.
It's out on DVD so, rent it already!