February 3, 2009 -- “Frozen River” is one of those little independent films like “The Visitor” that sometimes hit the jackpot and actually make an impact on the national movie scene. More often than not, independent films don't get distributed and never find their audience. “Frozen River” is a happy exception to the rule. It is a fine film that has a lot to say about the current state of affairs in the United States as well as family relationships.

Melissa Leo of “Righteous Kill” stars as Ray Eddy, a single parent struggling to survive in a mobile home with a part-time job in upper New York. Her husband, a gambling addict has skipped town with the payment on the new double-wide mobile home she and her two boys, T.J. (played by Charlie McDermott) and Ricky (James Reilly) were looking forward to. The Rent-to-Own guys are about to repossess her TV for non-payment and then somebody steals her car. The thief turns out to be a woman from the nearby Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation (also known at the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation), Lila (Misty Upham of “Skinwalkers”). Ray produces a gun and forces Lila to give the car back. It is through Lila that Ray discovers smuggling on the Akwesasne reservation, which straddles the Canadian border. During the winter, when the St. Lawrence River freezes over, vehicles can cross from the U.S. into Canada without leaving the Native American-controlled reservations.

Ray is forced into driving two Chinese citizens illegally into the U.S., but discovers that smuggling is lucrative. In smuggling, she sees a way of raising the money to pay for her new double wide mobile home. Ray and Lila become uneasy partners in the dangerous smuggling business, dealing with shady characters on both sides of the border. Ray's children become increasingly uneasy about how little food is coming into the house (until the smuggling money helps out). They begin to worry that their mother may disappear, just like their father did.

Ray is a woman whose face is worn by worry. She works part-time in a discount store, denied promotion by a sexist boss who favors a much younger and prettier, if unreliable, woman employee. Ray is helpless to do anything about it. She can't rely on her looks to get ahead in life. Her options are limited. In smuggling, she is making a lot more money than she is in her job, but it is very dangerous. If she is stopped by the police she could end up spending a lot of time in jail, depending on what, or who, she is smuggling. Lila is dominated by her powerful tribal family, which exerts control over every aspect of her life. Lila seems to be using the smuggling money so she can afford to raise her child, who is being cared for by relatives. The arrangement is not of her doing and she wants her child back.

Most movies feature people who are beautiful, rich and powerful. This movie features people who are more down to earth. They are plain people who are poor and they have no power. They are people who are just getting by. They are the kind of people you are a lot more apt to meet in real life than those beautiful rich people. They are also the sort of people more often seen in foreign films than in American films. Ray's life of quiet desperation shows in every line of her world-weary face. She also is determined not to let life get the best of her. She is a kind of unsung hero, working hard and taking chances so her kids can have a better life than she has. She fights for justice even though justice is hard to come by for people like her. Lila is a similar kind of person, but more quiet and reserved. She is no less determined, however, to fight for a better life for herself and her child. This film rates a B+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2009 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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