Movie Review: ‘Fancy Dance’

A nuanced, keenly-observed drama of family and culture slightly loses its way towards the end, but is carried by some excellent, naturalistic performances.

Lily Gladstone stars in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

Premiering on Apple TV+ on June 28th following a limited run in theaters, ‘Fancy Dance’ offers yet another chance to appreciate the sheer acting ability of Lily Gladstone, who here is offered a fully rounded character in Jax Goodiron.

Does ‘Fancy Dance’ Have the Moves?

(L to R) Isabel Deroy-Olson and Lily Gladstone star in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

If you were frustrated with how Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ initially seemed to be exploring native stories and experiences before pivoting to focus on its cartoonishly scheming white characters, then let ‘Fancy Dance’ serve as a correction.

If Scorsese’s film, with its seemingly endless running time, couldn’t find enough space to center the indigenous characters, Erica Tremblay manages to tell a more effective and enveloping tale of native culture in a quick 90 minutes. And if Gladstone missed out on an Oscar for that performance, then ‘Fancy Dance’ should certainly see her considered for next year.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Isabel Deroy-Olson and Lily Gladstone star in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

Tremblay wrote the movie alongside Miciana Alise, and together, they bring a real sensitivity plus hard-nosed honesty to both the narrative and its characters. More like something along the lines of FX series ‘Reservation Dogs’ (though without the deep well of comedy in that show), ‘Fancy Dance’s script is full of layered people who are far from noble natives. In reality, most of them are just trying to make a living in the tough conditions in which they find themselves. And the story is also shot through with grief and loss and balanced out by a coming of age story for one of the characters.

Tremblay is more normally a documentarian, but for this fictionalized effort, she applies a similar keen, observational eye to the proceedings here. Eschewing fancy camera moves or stylistic tricks, she instead finds beauty in the everyday. And she also encourages her cast to given completely believable performances, with Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson and Ryan Begay standing out.

Performances

(L to R) Isabel Deroy-Olson and Lily Gladstone star in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

‘Fancy Dance’ keeps its focus narrow, letting the story breathe through a relatively small cast, though still featuring of a supporting cast to keep it vivid and full.

Lily Gladstone as Jax Goodiron

Lily Gladstone stars in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

It would be demeaning to say that Gladstone is a revelation here; she has been putting in excellent work for several years now. But Jax is a character unlike almost anything she has played –– this is a damaged, clever, haunted young woman who lives by her own set of rules. When we’re first introduced to Jax, she’s keeping a fisherman occupied while her niece, Roki (Olsen) steals his wallet, some lures and the keys to his truck.

Jax is unapologetic, and also weighed down by the disappearance of her sister Tawi (Hauli Gray) and is endlessly angry that the federal authorities aren’t doing enough to track her down. This is a complicated woman, a hustler who deeply cares for her niece and is traumatized when Roki is carted off by family services to live with her semi-estranged father (Shea Whigham).

Cue Jax going on the run with Roki, ostensibly to take her to a powwow in Oklahoma (an event the girl has attended with her mother in the past, entering mother-daughter dances (which give the movie its title). Their journey is one of danger and learning about each other, all while the authorities are closing in –– ironically, they will launch a taskforce to find Roki who is with a relative while largely ignoring the disappearance of her mother.

Isabel Deroy-Olson as Roki

Isabel Deroy-Olson stars in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

Deroy-Olson sparks really well off of Gladstone’s energy, and comes across as an unpretentious, charismatic performer, steering clear of teen/tween cliches as Roki goes through a gamut of emotions –– she’s worried about her mother, suspicious of the authorities and loyal to her aunt, even as she wonders whether she’s the best role model. All the while, she wraps herself in tradition and culture as a way to keep her sanity. It’s one of the best young performances of the year.

Ryan Begay as JJ

Jax’s brother, and a member of the reservation police force, JJ straddles two worlds, and is very much caught between them when Jax absconds with Roki. Begay has less to do than the two leads, but he’s a key supporting role, and brings low-key energy to the part.

Shea Whigham as Frank

Whigham is one of the few truly recognizable names in the cast besides Gladstone, but he doesn’t stick out, instead meshing well with his fellow cast members as Jax’s father, who married a native and spent 15 years in reservation territory before pulling the eject cord when she died. He brings a sad, frustrated energy to his work here.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olson star in 'Fancy Dance,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

A vital exploration of indigenous issues and the lack of attention paid to missing persons cases (especially women), ‘Fancy Dance’ is a carefully crafted movie that offers rounded characters and an interesting story. While a few cliches do creep in here and there (especially in the final act), they don’t impact it enough to reduce the effectiveness of the whole.

‘Fancy Dance’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

Fancy Dance

R1 hr 31 minJun 27th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Fancy Dance Online

What’s the story of ‘Fancy Dance’?

Since 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, 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.