Frozen River

Loved this first time effort from writer/director Courtney Hunt. Melissa Leo is amazing as Ray, the struggling Mom who just wants to get her kids a double wide trailer. She is thwarted by her gambling addict husband who runs off with the final payment before the film begins. The desperation of being so close to homeless and foodless fills this film. In one painful sequence we watch Ray sort through change just to make lunch money for her sons. Her dreams and her cash flow do not intersect so she starts smuggling people across the St Lawrence River in her car along with another struggling Mom. The performances by Melissa Leo and Misty Upham are terrific. Hunt deserves much praise for making this film on a shoestring. It is a quality piece of work lovingly filmed in the north country of New York State.
Memorable moment: Ray confronting Lila the first time.