What I've Watched: Frozen River

If nothing else, you should see this movie because rarely do you get to see a female-dominated story that has nothing to do with 27 bridesmaid dresses, Julia Roberts, teen pregnancy or trying to fall in love with the guy who is your best friend and you two just didn't know that it was love and not friendship. And best of all, it's a movie that is pretty darn good.

Frozen River is also the rare film that has strongly written female leads in a compelling and present-day tale of economics and race. Ray and Lila have an unusual and needed friendship that relies on trust, which neither of them has. Ray (Melissa Leo in her Oscar-nominated role) is making every end meet in order to raise her two children and make payments on everything from keeping the TV to a new house. The house is a double-wide, not some McMansion. There is a daily urgency in her passion to keep her youngest believing in the mystery of their lives while her oldest fights to become the man of the house while possessing no real maturity to do so. Lila delivers a natural understanding to the native communities and their own struggles, which are one-in-the-same with Ray's but yet rooted in a completely different perspective.

They are both searching for a form of freedom, and therefore their decision to partner together (even if not by choice) makes perfect sense while their scheme is wrought with tensions and pitfalls. Whether they achieve their goals is for you to watch and discover, but I can say the 90 or so minutes is worth the viewing.