Emotionally distraught from losing custody of her son Georgie and running out of options to earn a living to win him back, single mother Ashley (Abbie Cornish) becomes desperate when she loses her job at a local Austin megastore. So when the risky opportunity arises to become a coyote—smuggling illegal immigrants over the Texas border—she takes it. The harrowing experience results in unforeseen rewards and consequences, as Ashley forges an intense bond with a young Mexican girl who forces her to confront her past, accept the mistakes she's made, and look to the future.
An Independent Spirit and Gotham Award winner for his neo-realist film La Ciudad, director David Riker returns with the emotionally devastating The Girl. Riker's desolate, Texan-Mexican landscape provides a haunting setting for his story of loss and regret. Fleshing out a woman incapable of handling life's demands and the responsibilities of motherhood, Cornish brings poignant depth to a hopeless Ashley, whose struggles would be made much easier if she could ever learn to forgive herself.
CAST & CREDITS
Directed by David Riker and David Riker
David Riker is the director of The City (La Ciudad), filmed in New York's Latin American immigrant community. The film won awards at the SXSW, Havana, San Sebastian, and Human Rights Watch film festivals. He received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance as co-writer of Sleep Dealer.
Screenwriter
David Riker
Co-Producer
Douglas Cummins, Christian Valdelievre, Tania Zarak
Director of Photography
Martin Boege
Producer
Paul Mezey
Primary Cast
Abbie Cornish, Will Patton, Maritza Santiago Hernandez