Movie review: 'Fancy Dance' helps Lily Gladstone carve a niche

Here, she plays an outwardly tough but inwardly vulnerable Native woman who just wants to learn what happened to her sister. Expected to dance with her daughter, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) at a powwow, the woman hasn’t had contact with Jax (Gladstone) for two weeks.

That suggests foul play but authorities are slow to investigate. Jax, as a result, decides to take matters into her own hands and begin a search. In the process, she poses questions about foster parenting, reservation apathy and family ties.

Co-written and directed by Erica Tremblay, “Fancy Dance” isn’t a political statement as much as it’s a regrettable fact of life. It nudges viewers to understand what is unfolding and, hopefully, realize why people like Jax mistrust those in authority. This doesn’t use big hammers; it chips away, first at the heart.

That’s where Gladstone is so valuable. Behind those monotone inquiries, there’s a concerned – often frightened – woman who just wants the truth. Jax is a character who hasn’t been present in many films and could find a place in others. With her, Gladstone is creating a niche – if she wants it.

With Deroy-Olson, she’s a loving auntie, encouraging the girl’s powwow dreams and helping bridge the relationship gaps that threaten to crack her life.

When authorities suggest she needs to stay with non-Native grandparents, Roki rebels and “Fancy Dance” becomes a road trip of a different nature.

Tremblay doesn’t dress this up with jaw-dropping cinematography or long, moody sections of reflection but she does let Gladstone take the lead in establishing a timetable.

How she goes from tough sister to compassionate relative is part of the film’s charm. Gladstone plays pauses effortlessly, giving “Fancy Dance” an opportunity to breathe when it justs wants to inhale.

Gladstone and Deroy-Olson are great partners, finding ways to get information others won’t divulge. They do nicely with the relatives, too, and suggest there’s a family relationship just waiting to blossom.

Like “Coda,” “Fancy Dance” is one of those pleasant surprises we didn’t know we needed. It steps out of the shadows of bigger films and informs in ways we didn’t realize.