TRAILER RELEASES! Elevating Indigenous stories onscreen with “War Pony” and “The Unknown Country” | Opens in theaters July 28!

by cinemafemme

July 26, 2023

3 min read

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WAR PONY

WAR PONY follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. At 23, Bill just wants to make something of himself. Whether it’s delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the “American Dream”. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho can’t wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho’s life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world. Bound by their shared search for belonging, each of the boys grapple with identity, family, and loss, as they navigate their unique paths to manhood

DIRECTORS: Gina Gammell & Riley Keough

PRODUCERS: Willi White, Ryan Zacarias (A Chiara, A Ciambra), Bert Hamelinck (The Rider, The Sound of Metal), Sacha Ben Harroche (The Rider, The Sound of Metal), Riley Keough, Gina Gammell

WRITERS: Franklin Sioux Bob, Bill Reddy, Gina Gammell, Riley Keough

CAST: Jojo Bapteise Whiting, LaDainian Crazy Thunder, Robert Stover,

Stanley Good Voice Elk, Ashley Shelton


THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY

Reeling from a devastating loss, Tana (Lily Gladstone) is pulled back into the world by an unexpected invitation to her cousin’s wedding. She packs up her late grandmother’s Cadillac and hits the open road, driving from her home in Minnesota to South Dakota. After reconnecting with her Oglala Lakota family, Tana sets off to retrace a surreal journey that her grandmother took decades ago, searching for the spot captured in an old family photograph. As she travels, Tana finds connection in the stories of everyday people who’ve settled down far off the main roads including Isaac (Raymond Lee), who provides a pivotal clue to understanding the lost location that could cultivate closure. A personal reverie summoned from a beguiling mix of fact and fiction, THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY is an arresting debut feature from Morrisa Maltz.

Directed by: Morrisa Maltz
Written by: Morrisa Maltz
Story by: Morrisa Maltz, Lily Gladstone, Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, and Vanara Taing
Starring: Lily Gladstone, Raymond Lee, and Richard Ray Whitman
Produced by: Laura Heberton, Katherine Harper, Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, Vanara Taing, Morrisa Maltz, and Tommy Heitkamp
Executive Produced by: Miranda Bailey, Natalie Whalen, Ty Gordon, Rachel Crouch, Brenda Haynes, Gill Holland, Adam Koppel, Matthew C. Mills, Veronica Nickel, Steve Malouf, Rodes Phire, Mark Shlomchik, and Ben Speiser
Original Music by: Alex & Sam (Alexis Marsh and Sam Jones) and Neil Halstead
Edited by: Vanara Taing
Cinematography by: Andrew Hajek
Drone Cinematography by: Will Graham

Interview with Morrisa Maltz coming soon!

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