This essay analyzes the family dynamics, roles, and belief systems of Ray's family and Lila in the film Frozen River. It describes how Ray appeared to have little interaction with her children and there was conflict with her husband Troy who had left. However, the family still ate meals together and Ray formed a bond with Lila by working together to smuggle immigrants across the border to provide for their families. Ray's prominent values were providing for her children, as shown by her desperation in smuggling efforts to get housing and ensure her son got an education.

1. Essay on Frozen River
Frozen River Learning Integration Paper
This essay analyzes family methods of interaction, strengths, and barriers of Ray's family and Lila. It describes the family and community roles,
rituals, and belief systems that sustain their life processes. It also identifies the role of grief, values, and symbols that describe the family and
community system. Lastly, the paper targets systems for intervention. From a micro/mezzo perspective the methods of interaction between Ray
and her family appeared to be short and emotionless. There appeared to be conflict between Ray and Troy, based upon Troy leaving the home.
Ray seemed to have little interaction with her kids TJ and Ricky. However she showed desperation to fulfill their dream of...show more content...
The family ate meals together despite it wasn't much, they did eat something. Ray met Lila after searching for her husband. Realizing he was
gone she saw opportunity through Lila to begin to routinely smuggle illegal immigrants to the US which became a routine. The women began
to form a 'sister' like bond over time working toward their goal of providing for their families. Ray and her family did not show any religious
beliefs other than celebrating Christmas. They lived in a Native community just outside of the Mohawk reservation. The community reflected
cultures of white working class and excluded underclass Mohawk natives. Ray and her sons all experience grief of the loss of the dad, Troy
abandoning them. Despite her anger, Ray did not talk bad about Troy in front of the kids. She simply stated the facts to TJ, and addressed their
dad leaving in an age appropriate manner to Ricky; clearly conveying family an important value to them. Ray's most prominent values throughout
the movie seemed to be providing for her kids. She showed much desperation smuggling in efforts to get sufficient housing, insisting TJ get an
education rather than work to help support the family, and fulfilling Ricky's dreams of a good Christmas. One of the symbols in the movie was
the climate; the movie had a winter setting with no sun light. It seemed as blue as the main color which gives an oppressive, dramatic, and
Get more content on HelpWriting.net