The Business of Fancydancing (2002)
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57% of critics liked it
(30 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(866 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
- Directed By
- Sherman Alexie
- Written By
- Sherman Alexie
- Genres
- Drama, Gay & Lesbian
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2002 Limited
Critic Reviews
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Janice Page, Boston Globe
Feels a bit like a racy after-school special.
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David Hunter, Hollywood Reporter
Where it goes wrong is in the combination of poetic sensibilities and run-of-the-mill narrative cinema.
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
It bristles with a passion and intelligence too intense to allow the film's style to seem pretentious.
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Megan Turner, New York Post
Pretentious when it should be penetrating, spasmodic when it means to be lyrical.
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Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
An often affecting, low-budget melodrama that is occasionally sabotaged by its economy of means.
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Cast
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Evan Adams
as Seymour Polatkin
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Michelle St. John
as Agnes Roth
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Gene Tagaban
as Aristotle Joseph
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Swil Kanim
as Mouse
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Rebecca Carroll
as Interviewer
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Cynthia Geary
as Teresa
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Leo Rossi
as Mr. Williams
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Kevin Phillip
as Steven
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Elaine Miles
as Kim
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William Joseph Elk III
as Tavern Father
