-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Professor wins at Sundance
Archive
Comments
Story
Heather Rae, one of Boise State’s most popular adjunct professors, was honored Saturday, Jan. 26, for producing the independently made film “Frozen River.” Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presented the film, which was the recipient of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for drama, the independent film equivalent to a best picture award. Winning the award provoked an emotional response from cast and crew.
“When I first I heard the news, I was in utter disbelief and I immediately started crying and continued to cry throughout the rest of the ceremony,” Rae said.
Produced by Rae and written and directed by first-time filmmaker Courtney Hunt, the film takes place in upstate New York on the Mohawk Indian reservation. Two outstanding performances drive the film’s narrative, given by independent-film vet Melissa Leo (”21 Grams,” “American Gun”) and newcomer Misty Upham (”Expiration Date,” “Dreamkeepers”). The two women, faced with economic crisis, turn to smuggling illegal immigrants from the Canadian border, through the sovereign Mohawk reservation and onto American soil.
In particular, Leo’s authentic portrayal of a single mother driven to the edges of her emotional limits as she struggles to save her family from economic ruin pulls the audience into the plot in a personal way.
“It’s a story about the complications of poverty and the things people will put themselves through to save those they love,” Rae said.
Filmmaker Courtney Hunt does a masterful job of weaving the austere and desolate landscape into a character itself.
An ice choked river and arctic winds serve as a silent backdrop for a set that truly allows the characters to convey accurately a tale based on the realities of the geography itself.
“It was literally 35 degrees below zero when we began filming and the Lawrence River was frozen solid,” Rae said.
Hunt had her job cut out for her as the low-budget project was shot in 24 days.
“We only had 10 days for pre-production,” Hunt said. “And then only 24 days for shooting. We had no choice but to use the place itself as a vehicle to tell the story.”
Rae and her husband, fellow Boise State adjunct Russell Friedenberg, have served as catalysts to an emerging film production environment in Boise.
Among a long list of credits as an actress, director and producer, Rae recently produced the film “Out of the Blue, A Film about life and Football,” with director Michael Hoffman.
The film chronicles the exciting Boise State Fiesta Bowl victory and the interesting back-story of players and coaches. Rae directed the award-winning, feature documentary “Trudell” which is about Native American activist and poet John Trudell. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.
Friedenberg also brings a long list of impressive industry accomplishments.
She wrote, directed and stared in the upcoming film, “IBID.” Friedenberg’s film was recently been accepted at the prestigious South by Southwest film festival.
Heather Rae turns her attention next to “Family: the First Circle.” This documentary feature, about the American family and the foster care system, is currently in production and will be released in 2009. Rae also sits on the board of directors for Treasure Valley Television, Boise’s community TV affiliate and chairs the board for the regional True West Cinema Festival.
Another exciting aspect of the success of “Frozen River” is that Sony Pictures Classics picked up the film at Sundance. Rae said that this is her first film that has been picked up by a major distributor and industry-insiders estimate the value of the distribution deal at around $1 million.
Regardless of her recent success, Rae is no overnight sensation. The BSU professor has been working hard in the film industry for over 20 years and is one of the most respected voices in independent film. Rae, who is of Cherokee descent and the mother of three, has been a nurturing presence to young and emerging filmmakers in Boise.
When asked what this honor means to Boise State and the film community she has been working for years to foster, Rae said, “I hope the accomplishment brings a bit more respect and credibility to BSU and the Boise film community.”
Rae remembered the success “Napoleon Dynamite” had on the Idaho film community and hopes “Frozen River” will do the same.
One can only imagine where her career will go from here.
DANIEL PRIDDY
Special to The Arbiter