Fancy Dance
We got the opportunity to screen the Apple Original Film Fancy Dance. A drama set in a Oklahoma reservation about a young girl trying to go to the local powwow with hopes of her mother being there and competing in the mother daughter competition. The path to go there is what the movie about as the mother goes missing and her aunt and uncle is out looking for her in their own way. The journey includes her grandfather who doesn't know much about her or her culture. The disappearance of the mother brings interesting alliances together to find out the truth and to keep the family heritage intact. Directed by Erica Tremblay and spoken in the Cayuga language (which is almost extinct) by the Seneca-Cayuga tribe of Oklahoma gives the audience a glimpse of what's life like on a reservation and how Native Americans are treated outside of their space. Starring Lily Gladstone as Jax who is the aunt and protagonist in the film, she is determined, passionate and very methodical. The role of Jax is very complex because she lives a hedonistic lifestyle but centered in her heritage. Gladstone did a great job with the role and gave Jax such raw emotional when she meets her niece in the end of the film. It was a bittersweet, poignant moment. The end of the film tied everything up nicely but before we get to the end we must talk about the roles of Roki, the niece, JJ her uncle and Frank the grandfather. Isabel DeRoy Olson is phenomenal as the street smart yet naive niece. The story is built around her and undying love of her mother but when the story shifts to Jax is where she shines as the innocent looking girl who can be manipulated and can be conniving when needs be. The movie shift between aunt and niece periodically and showcases what a family dynamic looks like when the patriarch leaves and have no connection to his previous family. The backdrop of the Oklahoman terrain is magnificent and it fits the movie well. From the trailer park to the strip mall the view even heighten the journey that Roki and Jax take to find their missing relative and their relationship. We particular how the script fits the times as we know how hard the reservation can be on young Native American children. Tremblay give the audience a vivid look into the lives of not only Indigenous people but the treatment too.
Written by Tremblay and Miciana Alise, Fancy Dance is a great original film and one that Apple can build off of to bring more original stories even stories of Indigenous people to Apple TV. The acting was great all around and should be considered among some of the best of this year film rollout. Also must applaud the authenticity of the people playing the roles as well because it is time that Native American actors and actresses get main roles in a major film. Fancy Dance is a good start to acknowledge what is life like on a reservation and what it takes to survive daily for those who live there. A great film and one that should be on everyone's must see list of 2024 and even some award categories for next year.
Comments