Frozen River is an oddity in cinema; a social commentary devoid of soapbox theatrics, which stars two strong actresses, in a film written and directed by a female in her debut.

It deals with single mothers struggling below the poverty line, and the role of females in two different, yet co-existing cultures. It is the antithesis of the type of female empowerment shown in the likes of Sex and the City. This is a film concerned more with depth and character, and less about flash and caricature.  

At its core, though, Frozen River is a crime drama, set in the icy outskirts of Massena, a town in upstate New York, near the Canadian border and Mohawk reservation. Its dead of winter setting will conjure memories of Fargo.

Ray (Melissa Leo) is a minimum wage earning mother of two, struggling under the stress of paying the bills, enhanced after her gambling husband ran out again with their life savings. Her main priority is the acquisition of an upgraded mobile home for her family, made even more difficult during the material madness of Christmas.

In desperation, Ray finds herself in the middle of a people smuggling racket, transporting varied immigrants from Canada, into the US, through Mohawk land, which is unapproachable by the law.

Ray’s partner in crime is Lila (Misty Upham), a Mohawk woman, also in destitute. While Ray’s dismal domestic life is familiar (white trash poverty), the Mohawk politics which dictates Lila’s life places a new spin on a previously told story. Of particular mention is the relationship with her new born baby, stolen by her mother in-law, who is jaded by the death of her son, Lila’s husband.

Of course, the reason both women venture into federal crime is money: neither have any. And, enjoyment is had watching Ray pay off her debts, while feeding her kids something other than popcorn and tang, the family dish while coping with hard times.

Although occasionally dreary, Frozen River works due to the performances by its two lead actors, especially Melissa Leo, who delivers a turn full of mournful restraint. Yet the reason why the films acting is so good is owed to the writing and direction by Courtney Hunt, who has created heart breaking portraits of these two women, and the dangers and crippling tragedy which comes from their decision to enter such brutal territory.