FROZEN RIVER

Tracking down Oscar nominees on DVD has turned into a rather rewarding venture. Last week, I watched THE VISITOR which I’d heard good things about, but missed in theatres. This week though, I picked up FROZEN RIVER, which I’ll be honest – I hadn’t even heard of until three months ago, and might not have seen had it not been for Melissa Leo’s Best Actress nomination.

I’ve done a bit of bitching this Oscar season about where the AMPAS went wrong in their nominations, but let me give credit where credit is due – honouring this performance in this film was a stroke of genius.

FROZEN RIVER is about a woman named Ray who is dirt poor, and trying to provide for her kids while her life stays held together with duct tape and bungee chords. While trying to find her estranged husband, she meets a Mohawk girl who reluctantly brings her into a smuggling racket, where illegal immigrants are smuggled across the Canada-USA border by way of a native reservation.

The movie is quiet, yet moving – I think I set a record for uttering “Oh no” the most times in 90 minutes. Leo’s performance is very genuine, heartbreaking, and will stay with me for a long, long time.

This movie is one of the lower key titles that you might not even notice on the shelf at your local movie rental joint. The next time you’re there, do yourself a favour. Ignore copy after copy of LAKEVIEW TERRACE, and ask the friendly clerk if any copies of FROZEN RIVER are in.

You can thank me later.