Frozen River (2008)

Director:

Courtney Hunt

Writer:

Courtney Hunt (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (Venezuela)

Genre:

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 | Crime

Awards:

4 wins

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

Certification:

USA:R | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Cohen Media Group

Independent film-making at its best

The town where Frozen River takes place is Massena, New York, a few miles from the Canadian border in the middle of a Mohawk reservation, and in the winter it's every bit as cold and grey as the film depicts. This is one of those films that depicts a slice of life that most of us aren't privy too and it seems to know its subject inside and out.

Frozen River is independent film-making at its best, both vital and timely. Writer/Director Courtney Hunt shows how otherwise law abiding people can be driven to do some shady things when there are no other options. While there may still be a great divide between Natives and non-Natives, the film depicts how economic hardship has no boundaries and in fact unites us. As Lila and Ray make those dangerous trips across the border with state troopers lurking all around them, Hunt pays considerable attention to the small details of human smuggling, and the result is a constant state of dread as if anything can go awry at any time. Leo is absolutely brilliant as Ray, and Upham (raised in Seattle) is a pure revelation as Lila. Frozen River shines a light on a dark corner of our nation, one that is an unfortunate result of a useless immigration policy and a failing economy.