Ray and Lila’s destinies intertwine before Christmas in a deserted American town next to the border of New York State and Quebec. They are both single mothers. Ray, providing barely for her two sons, cannot return the debts of her abandoning husband; and Native American Lila tries to earn money to support her baby girl. In their despair they cooperate to smuggle refugees over the border through the frozen river. Easy money, risk, anxiety, violation of the law and adrenaline build up till the inevitable bitter end. But the surprising strong connection leads to true liberty. Frozen River, which deals with the relations between motherhood and financial independence, sharply criticizes society and offers a deep, rebellious and non-sentimental alternative – solidarity between women; comfort which succeeds in melting the ice. The wonderfully filmed, directed and played movie won an Oscar nomination this year.

Quentin Tarantino, head of the jury at the Sundace Film Festival who presented the filmmakers with the prize, presented the film with these words:

"The film blew my ass away. So real, doesn’t look like a movie, at first doesn’t feel like a movie. Wonderful depiction of poverty in America. Took my breath away, and then, somewhere around the last hour, It put my heart in a vice and proceeded to twist that vice until the last frame. And all of a sudden this completely naturalistic movie is the most exciting thriller I’m going to see this year”.

Interview with director Courtney Hunt