Thin Ice

An insurance agent is looking for a way to jump-start his business, reunite with his estranged wife, and escape the dismal midwestern weather. This self-proclaimed master of duplicity believes that salesmanship is all about selling a story—all he needs is a sucker willing to buy it. He hits pay dirt with a lonely retired farmer, who is sitting on something much bigger than an insurance commission: a rare violin collecting dust in the corner of the farmhouse. His attempt to con the old man spins out of control, however, trapping him in a web of deceit and moral ambiguity. The A-team of the Sprecher sisters—director Jill and cowriter Karen—know how to transform a tall tale into cinematic magic convincingly. The outstanding cast creates a collection of oddball characters that are as charming as they are calculating. What seems simple turns complicated, and The Convincer develops into a thoroughly satisfying romp.