Before she captivated the film world with her performance in Scorcese’s crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone starred in Erica Tremblay’s feature film debut Fancy Dance, earlier in 2023. It’s a tragic drama, wherein Gladstone portrays Jax, a lesbian woman dealing with the government that failed to find her sister, and that currently seeks to transfer her niece’s custody to her white father. But it’s also an uplifting drama, one that celebrates the connection between Jax and her niece Roki, the Cayuga culture and language, and the connection with their community and tribe that continues to persist despite state disenfranchisement. Pacing issues do make the film a tad rushed, but nevertheless, Fancy Dance is a subtle and poignant debut, made much more grounded with the excellent lead performances.
"Fancy Dance becomes part coming-of-age story, part road movie, and part revenge thriller with Tremblay effectively guiding Gladstone and Deroy-Olson through the tropes of each subgenre."
— Roxana Hadadi
"Tremblay’s film deserves to be appreciated as more than a mere addendum to a bigger movie [Killers of the Flower Moon]. On its own terms, the film is an exquisite star vehicle for one of Hollywood’s best rising actresses and an engaging thriller."
— Christian Zilko
Following her sister's disappearance, Jax and her niece Roki must stick together. Desperate to keep what's left of their family intact, Jax and Roki defy the law and hit the road on a journey to the Grand Nation Powwow in Oklahoma City.
While trying to find her missing sister, Native American woman Jax struggles to keep custody of her niece Roki, hitting the road for the state powwow in hopes of keeping their family intact.
Lily Gladstone and Isabel DeRoy-Olson. Their dynamic is what makes the film work, setting up an endearing familial bond to root for.
Lily Gladstone is great, but I hope more people remember and advocate for the missing and murdered Indigenous women after watching this film.
