Frozen River(2008)- User Reviews

A mother’s love is unbreakable. Not many people have seen or have even heard of Frozen River because it was only limited released. However, it captured two Academy Award nominations: Melissa Leo for best actress and best original screenplay (Courtney Hunt). 2008 was a year of filmatic perfection and only so many films can be nominated for an Oscar. Therefore, Melissa Leo’s and Courtney Hunt’s nominations are great accomplishments.
Frozen River is the dark horse of 2008 and does not disappoint. The story is very unique, and inspirational. The screenplay is unbelievable and succeeds in creating a very believable world applicable film. The story is about a woman named Ray Eddy who lives by the Canadian border near an Indian reservation. Her husband stole her car and ran out on the family. He lost the majority of his family’s money by gambling leaving his family in poverty. Ray Eddy does everything she can to provide for her two kids and make ends meet. While trying to find her husband and the stolen car she meets a Native American from the Indian reservation named Lila Littlewolf. At first, she despises Lila, but eventually joins Lila in illegally smuggling aliens from Canada over a frozen river into the U.S. Her new job is able to help her family out, by paying bills and putting food on the table. By the end of the film Ray Eddy and Lila have formed a very close bond and a very good friendship. Their friendship helps both of these single mothers help the people they love most in the world: their kids.
Mellisa Leo’s Oscar nomination was well deserved. Her facial expressions unveil courage and sorrow, therefore allowing the audience to enter her soul. The tears in her eyes put life in perspective. She teaches us to be thankful for what we have. Mellisa Leo portrays great determination in her performance and brings a subtle legitimacy into play. Her on screen matchup Misty Upham does a solid job in her supporting role. She plays Lila Littlewolf showing the point of view of a Native America in a similar situation. Her performance is very special because the story of minorities is not always heard. Mellisa Leo and Misty Upham’s characters are one in the same and are on the same journey.
The present state of the world economy is dismal and is affecting people around the world. In recent years illegal immigration has been prominent in the United States. Frozen River combines these two modern issues into a single masterpiece revolving around a river. Rivers are very symbolic in many ways. They refer to renewal and new beginnings. The title of the film is very fitting because even though the river is frozen, and therefore slowing down renewal and development, it will never stop completely. This is because like a river continuing to flow under feet of ice, there is always hope, improvement and moving forward.