Product Details

• Actors: Evan Adams, Michelle St. John, Gene Tagaban, Swil Kanim, Rebecca Carroll
• Directors: Sherman Alexie
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Fox Lorber
• DVD Release Date: July 8, 2003
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000950WI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,893 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Business of Fancydancing" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical, angry, and honest, November 28, 2002

By 

S. Stroshane (Brighton, Massachusetts United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Although the pacing is choppy, "The Business of Fancydancing" is haunting and powerful. Successful poet Seymour Polatkin returns to his rez for a friend's funeral and faces harsh criticism for the way he used his people for his subjects, then abandoned them. Evan Adams as Seymour is humorous, sly, confused, and finally shattered by his choices. Strong performances by Gene Tagaban as Aristotle Joseph, who serves as Seymour's conscience, and Swil Kanim as Mouse, the mocking, witty friend who dies. He's also a superb violinist. Michele St. John shines as Seymour's early love interest and indigenous singer who has chosen to live on the rez.
Alexie mocks himself as he poses the question, "What's it like when you talk and white people listen?"
I recommend this film to anyone who wants to understand cultural disjointedness and search for self-identity.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE, June 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Business of Fancydancing (DVD)

The first key is to first face the issues. Before you can do that you must admit these issues exist. Sherman helps bring these issues up front, in your face. I find in talking to people about this film, the ones that do NOT like it are homophobics. People also have a hard time watching two Indians beat up a white guy. But these things happen every day. We are not painted red men sitting on a pony. We are all human, and Sherman shows us in all our glory, pettiness, anger, desperation, and most private moments.
The interviewer was the woman I didn't like. I didn't "get" her purpose. In talking to my girlfriend she said we're not supposed to like her, that my girlfriend has seen white people talking to me in this manner. The interviewer is every non-Indian that wants to put the Indian in their place. Knowing this helps when you watch the movie.
I find Gene, Evan, Swil and Michelle breaking all the stereotypes. They are mixed blood, they are gay, they are recovering alcoholics, they are amazing musicians, teachers, and you want to love them for all they are and all they are not.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five frybread rating!, June 23, 2004

By 

Debra Barnes (Tucson, AZ by way of Indian Country, SD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Business of Fancydancing (DVD)

Poetically intriguing! I am sure Alexie will be criticized for showing the ugly side of reservation life along with the beauty, but this film sticks with you. It addresses all the angles. It shows the intra-tribal prejudice that happens when someone leaves the rez and becomes successful, and the ones who could have, but chose not to. The images of childhood innocence woven with gasoline huffing and Lysol sandwiches are sad and beautiful at the same time. The great dialog, Alexie's writing, great casting and cinematography make this all around good. It has more "meat" than Smoke Signals, I highly recommended it.