In the movie Frozen River, Ray's misfortunes affect the well-being of his two sons. The trailer Ray's family lives in is poorly insulated, causing them to suffer during the harsh winter. One evening, while Ray is on his smuggling trips, his son realizes that the trailer's pipes are frozen. Frustrated by the situation, he does everything possible to thaw the pipes under the house. Without Ray's permission, he uses a blowtorch to thaw the trailer's pipes. The depiction of this scene is crucial to understanding the level of poverty Ray's family is deeply entrenched in and why Ray desperately needs a new trailer. This scene allows viewers to empathize and justify Ray's actions as he embarks on humanity's dangerous adventure.