Chichester Cinema at New Park
FROZEN RIVER
The 18th Chichester International Film Festival
Premieres, Previews & New Releases of World Cinema
With thanks to Axiom Distributors for this new release.
After her husband takes off in their family vehicle for an unknown destination, Eddy (Melissa Leo) attempts to survive alone, raising two sons, and working part-time.
One day she witnesses a Mohawk woman (Misty Upham) driving their family vehicle. She follows and confronts her, finds out her name is Lila Littlewolf, and that she is actively engaged in smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States via a treacherous frozen river. The lure of money attracts Eddy and she decides to join forces with her new associate.
Writer-director Courtney Hunt finely balances a subtly staged character study with a tale that grows increasingly tense, so much so that Frozen River begins to play like a social-realist thriller. Lila emerges as more sympathetic than she first appears, but Upham's exquisite performance resists telegraphing emotions or what will happen next. The movie, though, belongs to Leo, an actor of considerable character and honesty who brings all of her reserves to bear on a big, complex role. Unafraid to show herself weathered by the cold, harsh elements and never working to make audiences love her, Leo builds the kind of performance that invites concentration, and then high respect. Original, sad, suspenseful and involving - an excellent example of independent cinema.
Canada · 
USA · 2008 · Courtney Hunt · 97min
