Fancy Dance (2024)

[Snazzy Daisy]

Synopsis:

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Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax (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, Frank (Shea Whigham), the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually turns into a far deeper investigation into the complexities and contradictions of Indigenous women moving through a colonized world while at the mercy of a failed justice system. Gladstone stars alongside Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Crystle Lightning, with Audrey Wasilewski and Whigham.

 

About The Movie:

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Starring Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olson, “Fancy Dance” will premiere in select theaters on June 21, 2024, ahead of its global debut on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024.

Apple Original Films unveiled the trailer for “Fancy Dance,” the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival selection from Confluential Films that stars “Killers of the Flower Moon” award-winning and Academy Award-nominated lead actress Lily Gladstone, and marks the feature directorial debut for Erica Tremblay, who also co-wrote and produced the film.

“Fancy Dance,” a Confluential Films and Significant Productions/AUM Group production, introduces director Tremblay, who also serves as screenwriter alongside Miciana Alise. The film is produced by Deidre Backs, Tremblay, Heather Rae, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Tommy Oliver, with Bird Runningwater, Gladstone, Forest Whitaker and Charlotte Koh serving as executive producers.

 

Release Dates:

• June 21, 2024 (in select theaters)
• June 28, 2024 (on Apple TV+)

 

Fancy Dance — Official Trailer | Apple TV+

 

[Snazzy Daisy]

Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson on personal connections to new movie, "Fancy Dance"

 

[Snazzy Daisy]

[Spartan Girl]

Watched this on Friday. Lily was amazing. Too bad it’ll probably go unnoticed by the Oscars. I still think she should’ve won for Killers of the Flower Moon.

[Snazzy Daisy]

The unwillingness of the law enforcement to prioritize and act urgently in MMIW cases continues to be something that’s hard to watch.

Despite its unconvincing title, Fancy Dance is a story about keeping a family together and a sense of hopelessness lingers throughout.

Lily Gladstone gives a heartfelt performance, balancing between fortitude and vulnerability. Isabel Deroy-Olson manages to stand on her own while sharing a screen with Lily. Their onscreen connection is phenomenal. Their dynamic, including their shared glances have played out sublimely. 💙

I like the fact that Roki loves her mother and her aunt unconditionally. There’s no judgement about them being a stripper or a hustler with a criminal record. Jax isn’t a great role model but she cares about her niece, more than Grandpa Frank.

The ending is quite anticlimactic though. What will happen to Roki? The death of her mom will have a tremendous effect on her. She also has to deal with the fallout of the accidental shooting and petty thefts.

 

[Spartan Girl]

8 hours ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

I like the fact that Roki loves her mother and her aunt unconditionally. There’s no judgement about them being a stripper or a hustler with a criminal record. Jax isn’t a great role model but she cares about her niece, more than Grandpa Frank.

To be fair, Frank in the end did seem to repent of his deadbeat behavior given how broken up he was when he called Jax to tell her they found the sister’s body.

I too wonder how they’re going to answer for Roki’s shoplifting and accidentally shooting the guy. There’s going to have to be some consequences, but the movie wanted to end on a hopeful note.