Frozen River (2008)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Courtney Hunt

Writer (WGA):

Courtney Hunt (written by)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (Venezuela)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Desperation knows no borders.

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:

Mohawk | Money | Smuggling | New York State | Car

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Melissa Leo	...	Ray Eddy
Misty Upham	...	Lila Littlewolf
Charlie McDermott	...	Troy J. 'T.J.' Eddy
Michael O'Keefe	...	Trooper Finnerty
Mark Boone Junior	...	Jacques Bruno
James Reilly	...	Ricky Eddy
Jay Klaitz	...	Guy Versailles
John Canoe	...	Bernie Littlewolf
Dylan Carusona	...	Jimmy
Michael Sky	...	Billy Three Rivers
Gargi Shinde	...	Pakistani Mother
Rajesh Bose	...	Pakistani Father
Azin Jahanbakhsh	...	Pakistani Dealer
Jack Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby
James Phillips	...	Pakistani Baby

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | New Zealand:R16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | France:U | Singapore:PG | Ireland:12A | UK:15

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Cohen Media Group

Trivia:

Charlie McDermott and James Reilly, who play brothers, are, in actual life, cousins.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Based on the car license plates on the Canadian side, and the Quebecois dialogue of the Canadian characters, the implied smuggling route runs directly across the St Lawrence River (or another major nearby river) from Quebec into N.Y. State. However, at no point does any major river (including the St Lawrence) form the boundary between Quebec and upstate N.Y. The St Lawrence does however form the boundary between upstate N.Y. and the (largely English-speaking) province of Ontario, and there is a major Mohawk Indian reservation situated on the N.Y. side of that section of the Canada-U.S. boundary.

Quotes:

Ray Eddy: I think we need to talk about this Troy... come on out. Troy?
[shoots gun]
Ray Eddy: ... I mean it Honey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-08-02)" (2008)

Ah, But What Joyless Times We Live In

I had heard that this film was something of a runaway hit at Cannes last year. After seeing it, I can see why. 'Frozen River' is a grim little tale of a middle aged woman (Melissa Leo)who's good for nothing, substance abusing,gambler husband has left her & their two sons for points unknown (only after usurping all of the money from the bank--and this,just a week before Christmas). Rae (Leo)has to earn some money soon, or lose their trailer home. She resorts to smuggling illegal aliens (with the assistance of an Indian woman who dislikes whites)over the boarder,from Canada to the U.S., via the local Indian reservation. Toss in elements of a cynical teen aged son,and other similar elements,and you have yourself a powerful piece of drama that although somewhat bleak,manages to draw you in to the plight of people who want to fit in, but are never the less, not excepted,due to racial issues. Well worth seeking out. The film has been slapped an R-rating by the MPAA, due to some course language.