The Business of Fancydancing
As seen in this ambitious low-budget feature,The Business of Fancydancingcan be very tricky indeed. Shot on digital video, the directorial debut of novelist-poetSherman Alexieis both profound and problematic, embracing the emotional legacy of Alexie's Native American heritage (and the rich layers of his literary work) while displaying the stylistic pitfalls of a first-time effort. What emerges, most effectively, is the bicultural identity crisis faced by many Native Americans--in this case a celebrated gay poet named Seymour (played by Evan Adams, costar of the Alexie-scriptedSmoke Signals) whose ambitions transcend the "Rez" (reservation) where he was raised. Though occasionally hobbled by amateur performances, this is a deeply moving drama about reconciling one's birthright with a quest for new horizons, and Alexie poses difficult questions without settling on trite or convenient answers. For anyone who has ever felt removed from their cultural background, thisBusinessoffers a resonant ring of truth.--Jeff Shannon