Frozen River

Frozen River won’t be the most uplifting film to watch this Christmas, but it’s a stark reminder of how different Christmas is like for those down on their luck. After she’s abandoned by her gambler husband, that’s certainly Ray Eddy’s case. With bills left to pay and two children to feed, it’s no wonder she’s taken on a dangerous side hustle, driving undocumented immigrants through the Indian reservation with Lila, a widowed Mohawk. Rather than emphasizing the thrill, or even however, Frozen River instead focuses on painting their respective situations and the lengths to which any mother would go for their child. It all works thanks to the excellent lead performances of Melissa Leo and Misty Upham.

After her husband deserts her, working-class mother Ray Eddy is in great need of money to find a home. Lured by the possibility of easy cash, she joins Lila, a widowed Mohawk who earns a living by smuggling immigrants from Canada to the U.S. across the St. Lawrence.