Icebox

About Icebox

"Icebox" is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Daniel Sawka. The film navigates the story of a 12-year-old Honduran boy named Óscar who is forced to flee his home and seek asylum in the United States, only to find himself trapped in the U.S. immigration system. As Óscar attempts to reach his uncle, Manuel, in Arizona, he is caught by border patrol and placed in a detention facility for underage illegal aliens - the 'icebox'.

Making / Production

The movie "Icebox" is a cinematic adaption of Daniel Sawka's graduate thesis film. The film is produced by James L. Brooks' Gracie Films and co-produced by Crystal City Entertainment and Endeavor Content. Filming took place largely in New Mexico with detailed depictions of situations within immigration detention centers based on numerous testimonials and reports.

Actors

• Anthony Gonzalez portrays the role of Óscar. His depiction of a young boy grappling with brutal life-altering choices received critical acclaim.
• Omar Leyva plays the role of Manuel, Óscar's uncle. His grief-stricken performance as a man torn between the dangers of legal procedures and family responsibility was greatly appreciated.
• Genesis Rodriguez characterized young woman experiences in the detention center, capturing the hardship women face in these circumstances.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This film is director Daniel Sawka's debut feature film.
• Anthony Gonzalez, who voices the lead character in Pixar's movie Coco, plays the main character Óscar in this film.
• The movie is an expansion of Sawka's AFI thesis film of the same name.
• The term 'Icebox' refers to the holding cells in immigration detention centers that are kept at extremely low temperatures.

Quotes

• "All I want is for you to go to school. Can you do that for me?" - Manuel
• "I'm not going back. I'm not!" - Óscar
• "You don't know what it's like, the things we have to do." - Female Detainee to Óscar

Music, Soundtrack

• The Original Score for "Icebox" is composed by Steve Mazzaro, having previously worked on scores for "The Boss Baby" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2".