The official trailer for 'Fancy Dance' on Apple TV+ arrived just days after the Oscar-nominated Lily Gladstone graced the Met Gala red carpet for her debut. In the trailer, Gladstone's character Jax embarks on a quest to find her missing sister, amid the looming threat of losing custody of her niece, Roki (played by Isabel Deroy-Olson).
Following her sister's disappearance, Jax and Roki struggle to make ends meet on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. As Roki prepares for the approaching powwow, the two women set out on the road, determined to find Roki's mother in time for the ceremony.
What initially seems like a search mission gradually transforms into a profound investigation, delving into the complexities and contradictions faced by Indigenous women navigating a colonized world while being subject to a flawed justice system.
Gladstone and Deroy-Olson shine alongside Ryan Begay, Crystle Lightning, Audrey Wasilewski, and Shea Whigham in this compelling narrative. 'Fancy Dance' premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, receiving critical acclaim, but it took over a year for the film to secure distribution.
That year marked a turning point for Gladstone, who garnered several best actress accolades for her role in 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' leading up to the Oscars, where Emma Stone ultimately took home the prize for 'Poor Things.'
In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, co-writers Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise opened up about their struggle as Indigenous female filmmakers to secure distribution for 'Fancy Dance.' The film also marked Tremblay's directorial debut.
"We never imagined that 'Fancy Dance' would receive the same level of industry support as 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' but the disparity is startling, rendering our film virtually invisible and leaving only one perspective: the non-Native one," they wrote.
This week has been momentous for Gladstone, who, in addition to her Met Gala debut on Monday, stopped by 'Late Night With Seth Meyers' the following day to discuss the profound meaning behind her breathtaking Met Gala ensemble.
The 'Under the Bridge' star graced the stage in a black gown and cape designed by Gabriela Hearst, adorned with stars crafted from recycled silver by Kiowa artist Keri Ataumbi. The stars on the ensemble were arranged to mimic the actual constellations visible during the summer solstice in the Northern Plains, where Gladstone grew up, a time she described as "really powerful" for her people.
"In both Kiowa, where Keri hails from, and Blackfeet, my ancestral homeland, our origin story speaks of us descending from the stars," she continued, her voice filled with reverence. "We believe we came from Sky Woman, who fell to earth and created everything for us. And when we pass away, we return to the stars. The Blackfeet call the Milky Way the Wolf Trail, where we join our ancestors and walk with them for eternity. Wearing this cape adorned with stars is Gabriela and Keri's way of reminding me that my ancestors are always with me on my journey."
