SummarySince her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of Jax losing custody to Roki’s grandfather, Fran...
SummarySince her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of Jax losing custody to Roki’s grandfather, Fran...
The awe-inspiring strength of 'Fancy Dance' is as softly sensational as it is proudly singular, and Gladstone is breathtaking throughout; Indigenous voices are a necessity to filmmaking.
Fancy Dance presents a broader narrative that emphasizes the connections that sustain families, communities and tribal nations, even when confronted with a legacy of disenfranchisement. Tremblay’s film validates the varied expressions of that experience with an affirming account of resilience and hope that sparkles with authentic performances, sensitive scripting and a genuine sense of place that resonate well after the final credits roll.
'Fancy Dance' brings light into the numerous obstacles faced by the Indigenous population in the United States: discrimination, coercion by organized crime, abandonment, authorities' indifference... A disappearance story reminds us of how the state and federal governments, and everyone else, continue to let down the native population. Lily Gladstone once again captivates with a performance that shows other strands of her acting talent.
It’s frustrating to watch a movie that gets most everything right but ends up going off the rails when it really counts. Such is the case with writer-director Erica Tremblay’s third feature outing about a Native American woman (Lily Gladstone) from Oklahoma’s Seneca-Cayuga Reservation who goes in search of her missing sister (Hauli Gray) at the Grand Nations Powwow in Oklahoma City with her 13-year-old niece (Isabel Deroy-Olson) in tow. But the duo’s road trip odyssey soon turns into a statewide crime-ridden misadventure not unlike the narrative in “Thelma & Louise” (1991). Much of this multilayered tale is actually carried off quite skillfully, spotlighting the challenges that indigenous people (especially women) face and presenting a story with a capably executed, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat quality, prompting viewers to wonder what’s coming next. However, as the story wears on, it becomes increasingly implausible, culminating in a climax that’s more than a little difficult to believe, its heartfelt sentiments notwithstanding. There are also some intriguing back story elements scattered throughout that, quite frankly, could have been better developed and resolved. That’s indeed a shame, considering how these shortcomings undermine the production’s many strong points. These weaknesses also take away from the outstanding performances of Gladstone (who turns in even better work here than in her Oscar-nominated role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023)) and Deroy-Olson in her big screen debut, as well as an outstanding cast of supporting players. This AppleTV+ original truly has a lot in its favor, but it’s unfortunate that it didn’t carry through on its strengths throughout the entire film. A near hit but one that doesn’t live up to its promise or potential.
On its own terms, the film is an exquisite star vehicle for one of Hollywood’s best rising actresses and an engaging thriller about the contradictions that form when you can’t assemble the puzzle of your own life without relying on pieces you’d rather throw away.
A thoughtful, affecting debut feature from Tremblay that puts a necessary spotlight on Indigenous peoples — featuring another exceptional performance from Lily Gladstone.
Lily Gladstone merecia o Oscar no ano de 2024 tanto quanto a Emma Stone, e esse filme é prova viva disso. Com um roteiro muito sem graça que nunca consegue dar conta do sumiço da sua irmã e da relação que restou à Gladstone com sua sobrinha, e ainda considerando os vícios e defeitos da sua personagem, a mulher carrega o filme nas costas. Claro, fazendo uma série de idiotices, como transformar tudo num road movie a caminho de uma festa ritualística de sua etnia. O marasmo é grande, mas o talento da Gladstone impressiona.