It’s worth lauding this film simply because of its collaborative creation with Hollywood heavyweight Riley Keough adding weight to what is essentially an authentic indigenous story.

Keough co-directs and produces with Gina Gammell and the story for War Pony developed organically after they made a connection and formed friendships in the South Dakota Pine Ridge Reservation over seven years. Writers are local actors who grew up ‘on the res’, Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy, and at every point of the film’s creation, the community had a say in the characters, story arc and resolution.

Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) is a 23 year old Oglala Lakota man, trying hard to wheel and deal his way to a better life for his two infant sons and their respective mothers. He’s an optimist and believes he is on the brink of success, never questioning or doubting and easily swayed. Just around the corner on the reservation is Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder), a cherubic 12 year old desperate to be a man and to win the love of his dad. He runs with a solid pack of friends but bounces from home to home with no one really able to look out for him.

The story weaves between the two and we get a sense of the poverty, the bonds of family, the clash of First Nation and colonial culture and the limitations of opportunity caused by oppression. It reminded me of a masculine Kuessipan (2019).

Bill’s chance of a regular wage by working for slimy rancher Tim (Sprague Hollander) seems like a tragedy in the making. Tim and wife Alison (Ashley Shelton) are smug in their magnanimity and destined to crush Bill’s innate goodness. For a while it feels like a bleak journey for both boys and I expected an inevitable spiral down – a non-indigenous writer might have chosen this path – but community input means the arc and resolution is much richer and more heartfelt. I’m sure I missed lots of detail about Oglala Lakota culture – the repeat motif of the bison is obviously significant.

It’s remarkable that nearly all the cast were first time actors, including Bapteise Whiting and Crazy Thunder. Their humour and warmth keeps us hoping for more for Bill and Matho.

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Have you seen this film? Let me know your thoughts.