Watch Icebox

Icebox is a 2018 drama film directed by Daniel Sawka and stars Genesis Rodriguez, Alex Livinalli, and Dylan Kenin. The film revolves around a 12-year-old boy named Oscar (Anthony Gonzalez), who lives in Honduras with his family. Due to gang violence, Oscar and his younger sister Sofia (Gloria Uribe) are forced to flee to the United States to seek asylum.

The journey to the US is fraught with danger, and Oscar has to face numerous challenges along the way. However, the most difficult part of his journey is yet to come. Once he arrives in the United States, he is taken into custody by the Border Patrol and placed in a detention center known as the "Icebox." The Icebox is a grim, cold, and dehumanizing place where children are locked up like criminals, forced to sleep on cold concrete floors, and denied basic necessities such as blankets and toothbrushes.

Oscar's only hope is to find a way to convince the authorities that he is a legitimate asylum seeker. With the help of a sympathetic female counselor named Shelly (Genesis Rodriguez), Oscar tries to navigate the complex legal system and make his case for asylum. However, his journey is filled with obstacles as he struggles to overcome the effects of trauma and the language barrier. Meanwhile, Shelly must fight against a system that seems to be designed to keep Oscar and other children like him out of the country.

The film is a powerful commentary on the state of immigration policy in the United States and the plight of asylum seekers who are forced to flee their countries due to violence and oppression. It is a poignant look at the effects of trauma on the mental health of young children, as well as the dehumanization that takes place in detention centers. The film is especially relevant in light of the current political climate, where immigration policies have become increasingly restrictive and the rights of asylum seekers have been eroded.

The acting in Icebox is superb, with Anthony Gonzalez delivering a stunning performance as Oscar. Gonzalez captures the vulnerability and resilience of a young boy forced to navigate a system that doesn't seem to care about him. Genesis Rodriguez is also excellent as Shelly, bringing depth and nuance to a character who could have easily been a one-dimensional stereotype. The supporting cast also shines, with Alex Livinalli and Dylan Kenin delivering powerful performances as Border Patrol agents who are tasked with enforcing policies they know are unjust.

Director Daniel Sawka effectively captures the bleak and oppressive environment of the Icebox, using cold, stark visuals to convey the sense of isolation and hopelessness felt by the children who are locked up there. Sawka also wisely avoids sentimentality, allowing the film's emotional impact to emerge naturally from the story and the characters.

Overall, Icebox is a powerful and thought-provoking film that deserves wider recognition. It is a timely reminder of the human cost of immigration policies that prioritize exclusion over compassion, and a testament to the resilience and bravery of children who refuse to be defined by their circumstances.

Icebox is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.