Frozen River

Aroview: A fraught, unexpected thriller within indie drama specs, this engrossing premise concerns two single mothers who find themselves smuggling immigrants across the border in order to make ends meet.

Situating its suspense along a frozen river between Quebec and New York State – an unpatrolled reservation where Mohawks are able to pass unnoticed – the film’s hinterland location provides great frosty atmosphere and setting for the sometimes contrived events that take place. While one wishes a little more adversity could have been injected into the mothers’ plight (for dramatic purposes), their quiet desperation conveyed through two compelling performances carries the story back and forth.

Sundance - Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic)
NZ International Film Festival 2008

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