2/24/2019 2 Comments Analysis IV: Frozen RiverDon't fall through the ice in the 2008 film, Frozen River by Courtney Hunt! With its setting in upstate New York in the middle of winter, Frozen River follows Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) as she fights to improve the living standards for her and her family while earning enough money to make sure that they receive a new home. After being abandoned by her husband, Ray searches for him only to find a Mohawk woman named Lila Littlewolf (Misty Upham) in possession of his car. The two pair up in an arrangement to smuggle in illegal immigrants across the frozen over St. Lawrence river for fast money so she may be able to afford her new house before time runs out right after Christmas day. Ultimately, Ray's and Lila's actions catch up to them when Ray is arrested and Lila is exiled from her reservation and instructed to take care of Ray's children until she can return. As a largely unknown film, this film may be underappreciated in an analytical context, but this fact will become resolved by the conclusion of this analysis. The film utilizes elements such as lighting, shooting, metaphorical themes, and effective acting to convey its message. The first area of analysis for this film is the lighting. Interestingly enough, lighting is kept very simple throughout the film. While there are day sequences in Frozen River, most of the movie presents shallow or downright dark lighting techniques. Yet this is often effective, pairing well with the tension in many scenes. This is particularly evident in the scene where Ray is fleeing from the police in the Mohawk woods, eventually making her way to the frozen river. The lighting in this scene is masterful. Shadows envelope the landscape to the point where the audience can only truly see Ray as she dashes through the eerie forest in the night. Truly, the audience shares the feeling of panic present in this scene as danger could literally appear to be hidden in any portion of the ominous darkness. In this way, the lightning truly does aid the audience with feeling invested in both the scene and the character's fear. Shooting technique is another powerful element utilized in the film. Mundane looks are prevalent in the film, as the shooting does not make any attempts to make scenes look more glamorous or worse than they actually are, they are simply there. Thus, shooting in this mundane fashion effectively captures the feeling of the characters and the setting itself. By stripping away any particular filters, the audience is invited to relate more with the characters and their environment. True, the setting is not at all glamorous or nice-looking, but it is very realistically shot. The viewer truly feels as though all these places are places that would look the same on the screen as they would in real life. While not as theme-heavy as A Simple Plan (1998) by Sam Raimi, Frozen River does present at least one major metaphor that acts as the film's strongest theme. Amidst themes such as selfishness, abandonment, and self reliance, risk stands as the king of themes in this particular film. Risk is represented by the frozen river in the movie and this is blatantly evident if the viewer pays close attention throughout the movie. Practically every time characters consider crossing the river, a concerned look born of fear consumes them. They give off an expression that conveys, "this time across the river may be my last". Yet while none of the characters fall through the ice by the conclusion of the film as one may expect, the river still acts as a haunting representation of the risk both Ray and Lila are assuming as they take on their smuggling tasks. On the surface, one may believe that the river simply represents the risk that the main characters may perish every time they cross the river, yet what this gimmick represents goes far deeper than this. Ray is risking her children's safety, security, and future every time she crosses the river. If she does not get the money necessary, Ray may lose the new house she needs for her family which could lead their safety to be compromised (this is proven true, when TJ ruins the house's pipes in an attempt to "fix" them). In addition, Ray knows that by continually smuggling, she risks that she will be locked up in prison; leaving her children behind to fend for themselves. Ultimately, this fear is semi-realized although Ray grows enough as a character to allow Lila to ultimately care for her children while she is away. Melissa Leo's performance in this film was enough to get her nominated for an oscar, so surely enough, the acting in Frozen River deserves to be analyzed. Melissa Leo is consistently and perfectly believable as the desperate single mother she portrays in the film and her performance is only aided by Misty Upham's character, who pairs excellently with her. As said by Robert Ebert in his 2008 review, "Sometimes two performances come along that are so perfectly matched that no overt signals are needed to show how the characters feel about each other. That's what happens between Melissa Leo and Misty Upham in "Frozen River"". This perfectly sums up how these two actors work off eachother in this film. Ray's fearful and faux tough demeanor is supported by Lila's apathetic self-interest as the pair embark on some risky business. As Robert Ebert stated, the two actors are more than capable of playing off one another and displaying understanding between characters without verbally communicates. This truly enriches the viewer's experience as it allows them to decipher for themselves the feelings the characters are experiencing allowing them to feel more fulfilled as they watch the movie because they can interpret for themselves the true meaning of the their bond. The plot of the film is strengthened by the movie's strong leagues who effortless change between verbal and nonverbal communication that effectively displays the evolution of the characters. While Frozen River may not be a very well-known film, it is certainly one with a fairly intriguing premise featuring great actors and an intriguing set-up ranging from profound themes to interesting shooting techniques. It is certainly effective in conveying its message and deserves commendation for this feat. In the future, this movie should be better known if for no other reason then to be analyzed by many more viewers to come.
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