Frozen River

By Courtney Hunt.

I decided to read this one after realising that I had the script to a film I recently added to my LoveFilm rental list. The film sounded good and was rated well, so I thought i'd go for it. But like most of the rental picks, I had forgotten what it was all about. So I went blindly into this one and with the usual deep desire and hope it would be good and inspiring. But did it deliver? The verdict is: it does, again, and again.

The story centres on a downtrodden mother, Ray, in her late-thirties, who lives with her two boys in a trailer park in Massena, New York. The father of the children has recently taken off with their savings to pursue his gambling addiction. But with Christmas approaching, rental bills to pay, food to put on the table and the remaining cost of a new larger trailer home, she finds herself in a desperate struggle to find the money before she loses everything.

The script was a compelling, moving and humbling read. Its main character jumped off the page from the outset and carried such empathy that you wanted to break the fourth wall, reach out and help her. The supporting characters were exceptionally written and carried relevant conflict, development and understanding. It moves at a somewhat fast pace, which mirrors the erratic heartbeat and mind state of the main character, as she delves deeper into a situation that's out of her control (but one that ultimately compels her). But despite the stark reality of the situation there is a subtle sense of humour that blends well with the pressing and dramatic matters of the story, and together offers a unique experience.

The story is about the lengths a mother will go to protect and take care of her children and how the line between right and wrong blurs when the well-being of your most dearest are at stake. It's about the pursuit of a better life and through means that attempt to justify the end. Desperate people do desperate things.

I am very much looking forward to the film and have faith that the material would attract those filmmakers who are only interested in being faithful to the script and its journey.