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.
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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 and Roki are unable to make the Indian tribal police or the FBI open a missing persons case for Tawi, as Tawi has a history of disappearing unexpectedly. The two get by mostly by stealing cars and selling them to Boo, a trader running a convenience store and scrapyard on the reservation. Jax discovers that Tawi dealt methamphetamine in the oil workers' camp on behalf of Boo. Child protective services and Indian Child Welfare authorities place Roki into protective guardianship with her estranged white grandfather Frank when they find out about Jax's criminal record. Frank and his wife are sympathetic to Roki, but are unwilling to let her live with Jax on the reservation or attend powwow this year. Jax sneaks into Frank’s house and takes her niece back, stealing Frank’s car. She promises Roki that they will meet Tawi at the powwow in Oklahoma City.
