Fresh off Lily Gladstone’s first appearance at the Met Gala, a trailer has (finally) been released for Fancy Dance, Lily’s other dramatic film about the Native experience in America.
This one is contemporary, about a woman searching for her missing sister while trying to care for her niece. I reviewed the film out of Sundance last year—it’s terrific if heartbreaking—but it went unclaimed for an entire year, even as Lily Gladstone had her breakout year with Killers of the Flower Moon. Finally, this last February, Apple TV+ picked up Fancy Dance, which is genuinely good because it means some people will get to see this movie, but also…well, Apple recently revealed their feelings on “content” and it’s depressing as f-ck.
BUT I remain happy whenever Lily gets the spotlight, so this is a good week for her. First the Met Gala, then an appearance on Seth Meyers—it’s fun when he interviews someone that he’s only just met but you can tell he genuinely likes that person. He seemed really moved by Lily’s explanation of her Met gown and the significance of receiving a headdress from the Blackfeet.
As for Fancy Dance, it’s getting the bare-minimum limited theatrical release on June 21 before streaming on Apple TV+ on June 28. This is the Netflix model, of only putting a film in just enough theaters for just long enough to qualify for awards later, but given it took thirteen entire months for a distributor to pick up Fancy Dance, I’m just glad it’s being seen at all. Look for it this summer, and let Lily break your heart once again.
