Dir: Courtney Hunt / Writer: Courtney Hunt/ Cinematography: Reed Morano
It's bleak up north (image: Criana FlickrCC)
When Ray’s husband skips town 3 days before Christmas taking their life savings with him there’s little time for pining – her concern is for her two sons and, more immediately, what she’s going to do now there’s no money for their new trailer home due to arrive later that day.
Life in Massena, New York – a Mohawk reservation town on the border with Canada – is a hand-to-mouth existence for most but with no savings, two boys, a home that’s falling to bits and only a waitressing job to bring in funds, Ray faces an extremely grim new year.
A chance encounter brings her into contact with Lila Littlewolf, an outcast member of the local Mohawk tribe, and the highly dangerous smuggling trade that the Indians operate. Using the frozen St. Lawrence river as an artery all manner of contraband brought into the US from Canada. Illegal, dangerous – this kind of work comes with a fat pay packet but you need a car and you need contacts. Ray has the car and Lila has the contacts – neither likes or trusts the other but it’s a partnership of necessity as the single mums try to hold their lives together.
Sparsely, but beautifully, shot this is a thought-provoking and nail-biting film where you’re rooting for the women to finally, hopefully, make it through against the ever growing odds.
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