'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAmZ8IU//EACEQAAIBBAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECBAADBREGFBYxQVSi/9oACAEBAAE/AMlwNFOG5ZZLadrSFjbVtAlu3kGuh43vy/mv/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEv/aAAgBAgEBPwBXWT//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAH/2gAIAQMBAT8ARy//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fancy Dance is a new drama film on AppleTV+ that reflects on the disadvantages Indigenous people face in American society. The plot follows a woman named Jax and her young adolescent niece, Roki, as they set out on an unlikely adventure to find Jax’s sister and Roki’s mother, Tawi, who has been missing for two weeks.
Although this premise hints more towards the crime thriller genre, Fancy Dance skillfully focuses on the grave dangers that Indigenous women still have to endure despite not delving into graphic violence.
The movie offers a powerful commentary on the systemic neglect and prejudice against Indigenous communities, particularly highlighting the struggles of missing Indigenous women. However, what fans can't seem to get out of their minds is what happens to Jax and Roki. Jax fails to get custody of Roki, due to which Roki is forced to live with her grandparents.
Trending
Exploring Jax and Roki's fate in Fancy Dance
In Fancy Dance, Jax and Roki's journey is marked by the constant struggle to find Tawi, who has been missing for two weeks.
Jax, despite her best efforts, receives little help from the authorities, who suggest that Tawi might have run off. The tribal police department, where Jax and Tawi's half-brother JJ works, also fails to take significant action.
Jax takes it upon herself to search for Tawi while caring for Roki, who is hopeful that her mother will return in time for the upcoming powwow.
It gets worse after Child Protection Services refused to grant Jax custody over Roki based on her criminal record. Roki is sent outside the reservation where she lives with her grandpa Frank.
That forces a desperate attempt by Jack to get Roki back. Jax's journey becomes more frantic as he seeks to reunite with his sister while persuading Jax not to waywardly use drugs but instead remain hopeful because Tawi might return for the powwow ceremony.
As they escape from home together, Jax and Roki encounter several difficulties, including a dramatic instance where Roki mistakenly shoots someone. By doing so, she conquers her fears and frustrations, which temporarily comes between her and Jax.
Ultimately, though, they reunite at the powwow, where they dance in honor of Tawi and other missing Indigenous people, signifying their unbreakable bond as well as cultural heritage.
What happens to Tawi in Fancy Dance?
The mystery of Tawi's disappearance is tragically resolved by the end of the film. Jax discovers clues that lead her to believe Tawi was last seen with a man driving a red truck.
Despite not showing Tawi on screen, her story is a heartbreaking testament to the vulnerabilities faced by Indigenous women. Working as a performer at an adult club and later for a local drug dealer, Tawi becomes entangled with the wrong people.
Eventually, it emerges that she got murdered by a miner she had befriended who threw away her body into a lake nearby. After Jax keeps knocking on doors for days without end, the authorities finally take action to recover Tawi’s lifeless body.
What is Fancy Dance about and more details?
Fancy Dance begins with a serene scene of Jax and Roki in the outdoors, highlighting their bond and survival skills.
The film quickly shifts to the central conflict – Tawi's disappearance and the systemic neglect faced by Indigenous women. Jax's frustration with the authorities' inaction is palpable, and her determination to protect Roki and find Tawi drives the narrative.
The film also explores the complex family dynamics with Frank, Jax's estranged father, who wants custody of Roki. Frank, having distanced himself from the reservation, believes that Roki would have a better life away from it. His motives, influenced by his second wife Nancy, clash with Jax's desire to keep Roki connected to her cultural roots.
Eventually, while Jax and Roki face uncertain futures, with Jax likely facing legal consequences and Roki returning to Frank's custody, their dance at the powwow symbolizes hope and continuity.
Interested viewers can watch Fancy Dance on AppleTV+.
