| Fancy Dance | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Erica Tremblay |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Carolina Costa |
| Edited by | Robert Grigsby Wilson |
| Music by | Samantha Crain |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Apple Original Films (through Apple TV+) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
|
| Box office | $16,677 [1] [2] |
Fancy Dance is a 2023 American drama film directed by Erica Tremblay (in her feature directorial debut), from a screenplay written by Tremblay and Miciana Alise. It stars Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson and Shea Whigham.
Fancy Dance premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. It began a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024, prior to streaming on Apple TV+ on June 28.
Plot
Since her sister Tawi's disappearance two weeks ago, Jax has cared for her 13-year-old niece Roki on the Seneca–Cayuga reservation. Jax discovers that Tawi dealt methamphetamine in the oil workers' camp on behalf of Boo, a trader running a convenience store on the reservation. Child protective services and Indian Child Welfare authorities place Roki into protective guardianship with her grandfather Frank when they find out about Jax's criminal record. Jax promises Roki that they will meet Tawi at the powwow in Oklahoma City and they decamp in Frank's car in the night.
Because the reservation is under federal jurisdiction, Frank and his wife file Roki's abduction in the morning with FBI. At a shopping mall, Roki steals out of one customer's handbag her car keys and a Glock pistol. Jax's half-brother JJ, who serves with Indian tribal police, tells her that Tawi was seen some time ago at the home of Boo's mother in Tulsa, where Jax finds out that Tawi used to come by in a red pickup truck. When an attendant at a filling station in Shawnee recognises Jax from abduction alerts in the media and wants to notify the police, Roki threatens him with the stolen handgun, accidentally discharging it and wounding the attendant in the shoulder. JJ locates the red pickup in Boo's scrapyard and in the morning the police find Tawi's corpse in the nearby lake.
The film closes with Jax and Roki dancing together in the annual Missing & Murdered Memorial dance at the powwow, as one police officer at the ceremony recognises Jax and alerts his colleagues over the radio.
Cast
- Lily Gladstone as Jax
- Isabel DeRoy-Olson as Roki
- Shea Whigham as Frank
- Audrey Wasilewski as Nancy
- Ryan Begay as JJ
- Crystle Lightning as Sapphire
- Dennis Newman as Derrick
- Tamara Podemski as Ricky
Production
In December 2020, the screenplay of Fancy Dance was selected as one of The Indigenous List, initiated by The Black List, IllumiNative and Sundance Institute to spotlight the work of Native American writers. [3] In May 2022, the screenplay also was featured in the Cannes Screenplay List. [4]
In August 2022, it was announced that Erica Tremblay would direct the film, with Confluential Films and Tommy Oliver financing and producing. [5] The principal photography took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began in August 2022. [6]
Release
Fancy Dance had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, on January 20, 2023. [7] It also screened at the 2023 South by Southwest, [8] and at the 2023 NewFest. [9]
Cercamon acquired worldwide sales rights to the film on February 16, 2023. [10] In February 2024, Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights to the film, with plans to release it later in the year. [11] It was released in a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024, prior to streaming on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024. [12]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 91 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "An urgent drama grounded in its observant depiction of reservation life, Fancy Dance establishes director/co-writer Erica Tremblay as a rising filmmaking talent." [13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [14]
References
- ^ "Fancy Dance (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance (2024)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 8, 2020). "The Black List, IllumiNative And Sundance Institute Unveils Inaugural Indigenous List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 19, 2022). "Mubi, Wscripted unveil second female-focused Cannes Screenplay List (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (August 16, 2022). "Erica Tremblay's 'Fancy Dance' Starring Lily Gladstone Underway From Confluential Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Tramel, Jimmie (September 18, 2022). "'Fancy Dance' film includes creatives with ties to 'Reservation Dogs,' 'Killers of the Flower Moon'". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "FANCY DANCE". NewFest. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (February 16, 2023). "Cercamon Takes World Rights to Indigenous Drama 'Fancy Dance,' Starring Lily Gladstone (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (February 6, 2024). "'Fancy Dance': Apple Original Films Acquires Global Rights To Erica Tremblay's Feature Film Debut Starring Oscar Nominee Lily Gladstone". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Peralta, Diego (April 10, 2024). "Lily Gladstone's 'Fancy Dance' Finally Sets Release Date". Collider. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
External links
- Fancy Dance at IMDb
- 2023 films
- 2023 drama films
- 2023 directorial debut films
- 2023 independent films
- 2023 LGBT-related films
- 2023 multilingual films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- American LGBT-related films
- American multilingual films
- Apple TV+ original films
- English-language drama films
- English-language independent films
- Films about missing people
- Films about Native Americans
- Films set in Oklahoma
- Lesbian-related films
- Native American drama films
- Native American language films
| Fancy Dance | |
|---|---|
|
Release poster | |
| Directed by | Erica Tremblay |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Carolina Costa |
| Edited by | Robert Grigsby Wilson |
| Music by | Samantha Crain |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Apple Original Films (through Apple TV+) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
|
| Box office | $16,677 [1] [2] |
Fancy Dance is a 2023 American drama film directed by Erica Tremblay (in her feature directorial debut), from a screenplay written by Tremblay and Miciana Alise. It stars Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson and Shea Whigham.
Fancy Dance premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. It began a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024, prior to streaming on Apple TV+ on June 28.
Plot
Since her sister Tawi's disappearance two weeks ago, Jax has cared for her 13-year-old niece Roki on the Seneca–Cayuga reservation. Jax discovers that Tawi dealt methamphetamine in the oil workers' camp on behalf of Boo, a trader running a convenience store on the reservation. Child protective services and Indian Child Welfare authorities place Roki into protective guardianship with her grandfather Frank when they find out about Jax's criminal record. Jax promises Roki that they will meet Tawi at the powwow in Oklahoma City and they decamp in Frank's car in the night.
Because the reservation is under federal jurisdiction, Frank and his wife file Roki's abduction in the morning with FBI. At a shopping mall, Roki steals out of one customer's handbag her car keys and a Glock pistol. Jax's half-brother JJ, who serves with Indian tribal police, tells her that Tawi was seen some time ago at the home of Boo's mother in Tulsa, where Jax finds out that Tawi used to come by in a red pickup truck. When an attendant at a filling station in Shawnee recognises Jax from abduction alerts in the media and wants to notify the police, Roki threatens him with the stolen handgun, accidentally discharging it and wounding the attendant in the shoulder. JJ locates the red pickup in Boo's scrapyard and in the morning the police find Tawi's corpse in the nearby lake.
The film closes with Jax and Roki dancing together in the annual Missing & Murdered Memorial dance at the powwow, as one police officer at the ceremony recognises Jax and alerts his colleagues over the radio.
Cast
- Lily Gladstone as Jax
- Isabel DeRoy-Olson as Roki
- Shea Whigham as Frank
- Audrey Wasilewski as Nancy
- Ryan Begay as JJ
- Crystle Lightning as Sapphire
- Dennis Newman as Derrick
- Tamara Podemski as Ricky
Production
In December 2020, the screenplay of Fancy Dance was selected as one of The Indigenous List, initiated by The Black List, IllumiNative and Sundance Institute to spotlight the work of Native American writers. [3] In May 2022, the screenplay also was featured in the Cannes Screenplay List. [4]
In August 2022, it was announced that Erica Tremblay would direct the film, with Confluential Films and Tommy Oliver financing and producing. [5] The principal photography took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began in August 2022. [6]
Release
Fancy Dance had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, on January 20, 2023. [7] It also screened at the 2023 South by Southwest, [8] and at the 2023 NewFest. [9]
Cercamon acquired worldwide sales rights to the film on February 16, 2023. [10] In February 2024, Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights to the film, with plans to release it later in the year. [11] It was released in a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024, prior to streaming on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024. [12]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 91 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "An urgent drama grounded in its observant depiction of reservation life, Fancy Dance establishes director/co-writer Erica Tremblay as a rising filmmaking talent." [13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [14]
References
- ^ "Fancy Dance (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance (2024)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 8, 2020). "The Black List, IllumiNative And Sundance Institute Unveils Inaugural Indigenous List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 19, 2022). "Mubi, Wscripted unveil second female-focused Cannes Screenplay List (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (August 16, 2022). "Erica Tremblay's 'Fancy Dance' Starring Lily Gladstone Underway From Confluential Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Tramel, Jimmie (September 18, 2022). "'Fancy Dance' film includes creatives with ties to 'Reservation Dogs,' 'Killers of the Flower Moon'". Tulsa World. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "FANCY DANCE". NewFest. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (February 16, 2023). "Cercamon Takes World Rights to Indigenous Drama 'Fancy Dance,' Starring Lily Gladstone (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (February 6, 2024). "'Fancy Dance': Apple Original Films Acquires Global Rights To Erica Tremblay's Feature Film Debut Starring Oscar Nominee Lily Gladstone". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Peralta, Diego (April 10, 2024). "Lily Gladstone's 'Fancy Dance' Finally Sets Release Date". Collider. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Fancy Dance". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
External links
- Fancy Dance at IMDb
- 2023 films
- 2023 drama films
- 2023 directorial debut films
- 2023 independent films
- 2023 LGBT-related films
- 2023 multilingual films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- American LGBT-related films
- American multilingual films
- Apple TV+ original films
- English-language drama films
- English-language independent films
- Films about missing people
- Films about Native Americans
- Films set in Oklahoma
- Lesbian-related films
- Native American drama films
- Native American language films