The Business of Fancydancing (2002)

57% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(853 ratings)

Shot on digital video and taking its title from his 1992 book of poetry, Sherman Alexie's The Business of Fancydancing is a portrait of the conflicted relationship between two Native American men. Aristotle Joseph (Gene Tagaban) and Seymour Polatkin (Evan Adams) had long been best friends by the… More Shot on digital video and taking its title from his 1992 book of poetry, Sherman Alexie's The Business of Fancydancing is a portrait of the conflicted relationship between two Native American men. Aristotle Joseph (Gene Tagaban) and Seymour Polatkin (Evan Adams) had long been best friends by the time they left their Spokane reservation to attend college in Seattle. But while Seymour flourished in Seattle as a gay writer, Aristotle endured nothing but bad luck that led to growing resentment, both against white society and his best friend. Although Aristotle returned to the reservation, Seymour remained in Seattle. Now, 15 years later, the sudden death of their mutual childhood friend brings Seymour back to the reservation -- without his white boyfriend -- where he must cope with his status as the de facto mouthpiece for his people and his estranged relationship with both Aristotle, who seems to be growing more violent by the day, and also Agnes (Michelle St. John), his one-time college girlfriend. The Business of Fancydancing was screened at the 2002 Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Sherman Alexie
Written By: Sherman Alexie
Genres: Drama, Gay & Lesbian

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Limited
On DVD: Jul 8, 2003

Critic Reviews

Janice Page, Boston Globe
Feels a bit like a racy after-school special.
David Hunter, Hollywood Reporter
Where it goes wrong is in the combination of poetic sensibilities and run-of-the-mill narrative cinema.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
It bristles with a passion and intelligence too intense to allow the film's style to seem pretentious.
Megan Turner, New York Post
Pretentious when it should be penetrating, spasmodic when it means to be lyrical.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
An often affecting, low-budget melodrama that is occasionally sabotaged by its economy of means.
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice
The predictable conflicts ensue, often in histrionic dialogue declaimed through clenched teeth.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
...laudable, if occasionally muddled and overlong...
Doug Brunell, Film Threat
This film makes it abundantly clear what happens to those who leave whatever culture they are part of, whether it be an ethnic group, a sexual group or an educational sphere.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
An admirable DIY production, but [one] whose stylistic overreaches and poor execution drown out its aims and substance. Also, it's just pretty damn boring at times.
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert, L.A. Weekly
Alexie's relatively novel take on the quintessentially American story of being stranded between cultures is compelling.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This string of fragmented scenes often feels trite and polemical.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
It won't be the smoothest ride you'll ever take on the cinematic reservation, but those who have traveled the washboards will understand that this film is the 'real deal.'
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
A blazing performance by Evan Adams.