At first look, “Fancy Dance,” playing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, appears to be a simple coming-of-age story. And you might think — given the festival’s image, of Actress Isabel Deroy-Olson, alongside her aunt, Jax (Lily Gladstone), glowing in Native American regalia — that this is a happy film. Fancy dance, in this film, implies a Native American custom, a dance at a yearly Pow Wow where mothers and daughters dance together in celebration. But for 13-year-old Roki (Deroy-Olson), living on a Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, this causes sadness. Her mother, Tawi, has been missing for weeks. On top of that social services intervenes, placing Roki with her grandparents (Shea Wigham, Audrey Wasilewski). Roki loves her aunt and they belong together; that Jax has to break the law and kidnap Roki to take her to the Pow Wow is only part of this film’s tragedy. But it reaches for deeper treasure.
Director/co-Writer Erica Tremblay (Executive Story Editor on Season 2 of “Reservation Dogs”) here brings audiences fully into Reservation life. The story lacks any sense of comedy or relief during the film’s first act (though some levity comes in later at the hands of Deroy-Olson, who is terrific). We follow Tremblay’s narrative as we see Jax, young but still an aunt, doing her best to watch over Roki. Jax has had a rough-and-tumble past. Her mom died, and her dad, Frank (Whigham) left soon after. We learn that Tawi never forgave him, and he and Jax have a troubled relationship. Jax used to sell drugs, but now she’s clean. But some criminal activity works its way into the story. She and Roki steal a fisherman’s truck in the film’s opening. Her more responsible, older brother, JJ (Ryan Begay), suspects but doesn’t push too hard.
Not Your Typical ‘On the Road’ Picture
What works about “Fancy Dance” is the marvelous acting by Lily Gladstone, herself who grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation near Seattle, WA. She’s the kind of gruff, have-to-be-tough type, who has a soft interior, but hides it. She knows the angles — how to hustle and grind it out. We see this as she resorts to favors for a Reservation hood, Boo (an intimidating Blayne Allen). But later, as she questions a contact for her sister’s whereabouts — pushing too far in the process — her voice softens. There’s sadness and desperation amidst her hope. Gladstone becomes one of this film’s treasures, mixing toughness with fragility, yet never allowing her shell to crack.
What also works is the film’s script, courtesy of Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise (also the film’s Makeup Artist), who paint life for Jax — and as a byproduct Roki — as hard. Their hustling is out of necessity, rather than carefree lawlessness as in the charming “Dinner in America” (2020). But where that film was about chaos (and love), this one is about family. “Fancy Dance” allows us to really care for its characters.
Once Jax ‘kidnaps’ Roki (I use quotes because Roki finds out about it and is in no big rush to get home), the film takes an on-the-lam feel we’ve seen in many movies before. However, Tremblay and Alise anchor it in family, longing, and the threats Native Americans (or any minorities, really) face deep into majority America, away from their protections. In a scene that hurt my heart to watch, Jax’s niece innocently scrawls ‘Roki Was Here’ in a bathroom stall beneath bold red ink that reads: ‘Make America White Again.’ And a later stop by a Homeland Security officer lets us know how easy it is to get singled out.
Tremblay Welcomes You into Indigenous Culture
The film makes plenty of other salient points too, and Tremblay makes no bones about hammering them home. There’s Roki’s grandmother who means well, yet refuses to take Roki to this year’s Pow Wow for vague reasons. However, she’s quick to give her a pair of ballet shoes. Dancing is dancing, after all, and why not adopt this Western custom? There’s also the way the FBI quickly issue an ‘Amber Alert’ for Roki and Jax for questioning (who clearly means no harm), but have dragged their feet — and continue to avoid when asked —investigating Tawi’s disappearance. The resolution of this matter is one of the film’s most poignant events, and more cannot be said without spoilers.
“Fancy Dance’s” high points, aside the ones mentioned, are the acting of Gladstone and Deroy-Olson, and the bonds they deepen on the run. Gladstone carries the picture with ease, and Deroy-Olson adds an innocence and levity this heavy film sorely needs. “Fancy Dance” has some fun with a few concepts, and even makes us laugh when we shouldn’t. One such scene occurs in a diner where Roki orders an obscene amount of strawberry-infused breakfast foods to celebrate her first period (a North American Native American custom). The way the film aligns the scene with the supportive and accepting waitress is gold. For just a moment — despite “Fancy Dance’s” heavy tones — it warms your heart.
A Beautiful but Hard Film
Side mention should be given to Shea Whigham, who does a wonderful job portraying Jax’s father Frank. He’s made mistakes, but a phone conversation between the two near the film’s conclusion — as Jax sits morosely on a park bench — is the stuff great films are made of. No shortage of movies line Whigham’s resume (“American Hustle” and “Joker” stand out). However, I haven’t seen him this emotional and raw since the great “All the Real Girls” (2003), aside Zoe Deschanel and Paul Schneider. His performance is stoic and memorable.
“Fancy Dance” is a strong movie. Its characterization is solid, and though its principal characters’ bond is forged through tragedy, Tremblay directs their relationship well and makes us feel their pain. At 90 minutes, I feel that Tremblay could have added an extra scene or two after the film’s climax to iron out some rough edges, but it’s a light criticism. The film’s end, at a Grand Pow Wow, as first mothers and daughters dance, followed by a dance to commemorate the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic, is a thing of sadness and beauty. Tremblay makes it a privilege to be invited into to this intimate moment, making up for some of the film’s tragedy… making it mean something. This is a beautiful film but a hard one. Its success is that it makes you want to make the effort.
“Fancy Dance” is currently playing at the Sundance Film Festival. The festival goes from January 19 – January 29. Join us for continual coverage.
