Fancy Dance (2023): A Stirring Portrait of Family, Identity, and Indigenous Resilience
Fancy Dance (2023) is a powerful and intimate drama directed by Erica Tremblay, marking her feature film debut. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, the film explores themes of family, cultural identity, and justice through the lens of contemporary Native American life. With its grounded storytelling and heartfelt performances, Fancy Dance stands as a significant and necessary entry into the growing canon of Indigenous-centered cinema.
The story follows Jax, a tough and determined Seneca-Cayuga woman living on the edge of the law while searching for her missing sister on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. In the wake of her sister’s disappearance — and the authorities' lack of urgency — Jax has become the caretaker of her 13-year-old niece, Roki. The pair share a deep bond rooted in love, survival, and tradition, and Roki is training for an upcoming powwow where she plans to compete in the traditional fancy dance category, a symbol of cultural pride and personal hope.
As the days pass with no sign of Jax’s sister and the possibility of Roki being taken by Child Protective Services grows, Jax decides to take matters into her own hands. She and Roki embark on a road trip, both to find answers and to ensure Roki can attend the powwow — a spiritual and emotional goal that becomes the heart of the film.
Lily Gladstone delivers a stunning performance as Jax, bringing a quiet intensity and emotional depth that anchors the film. Her portrayal of a woman caught between tradition and modern hardship is both fierce and vulnerable, capturing the lived experience of many Indigenous women. Isabel Deroy-Olson as Roki brings youthful energy and sincerity to her role, offering a touching contrast to Jax’s hardened exterior.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of life on the reservation without relying on stereotypes. Tremblay, herself a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, infuses the film with authenticity, balancing moments of sorrow with scenes of joy, humor, and resilience. The film sheds light on the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), not through statistics, but through deeply personal storytelling that gives a voice to the pain and silence endured by many Native families.
Visually, Fancy Dance captures the quiet beauty of Oklahoma’s landscapes and the vibrancy of Indigenous culture, particularly in its powwow scenes, which are filmed with reverence and vitality. The film’s tone is both gentle and urgent — a blend of coming-of-age warmth, road-movie adventure, and social commentary.
In conclusion, Fancy Dance is a deeply human story about loss, resistance, and the powerful ties that bind us across generations. It centers Indigenous voices, experiences, and traditions with empathy and truth, while also telling a universally resonant tale of love, grief, and hope. With remarkable performances and a script full of quiet power, Fancy Dance is not only a moving film — it's an important one.
