Frozen River

Courtney Hunt's debut film, set on the U.S.-Canadian border in the frigid dead of winter, stars Best Actress nominee Melissa Leo in a terrific performance as Ray, a mother struggling to raise her two sons while their father is off gambling away the family's savings. About to lose her down payment on a trailer, Ray agrees to assist a Mohawk woman smuggling illegal immigrants into the country over reservation land along the St. Lawrence River. The suspense-driven portion of the script, dealing with the automobile transport of illegals over the frozen river, sometimes strains credulity, but the performances of Leo and Misty Upham, as her Indian confederate, are so well calibrated that the film successfully navigates its way past the rough spots. Hunt has obvious affection for the characters, and their domestic backgrounds enrich the plot rather than detract from it, particularly the depiction of Ray's hardscrabble home life. Frozen River is unquestionably a low-budget independent film, but its simple, unaffected style also creates a powerful sense of realism that keeps the story well grounded. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2008, this small gem showcasing remarkable actress Leo is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an audio commentary with director Courtney Hunt and producer Heather Rae, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a winning film.] (F. Swietek)