WAR PONY Trailer: Riley Keough & Gina Gammell’s Gritty Drama Arrives This Month
One of the most acclaimed films to hit the festival circuit in the last few years is Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s feature debut, War Pony. The film, set in the Oglala Lakota nation, had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Camera d’Or for First Feature. It also had its North American premiere this year at SXSW. It shows the gritty side of Indigenous life as it explores the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men (newcomers Jojo Bapteise Whiting and LaDainian Crazy Thunder) growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Keough and Gammell co-wrote it with Franklin Sioux Bob & Bill Reddy. Momentum Pictures has just released the official trailer ahead of its release in theaters and on VOD this month.
Here’s the official synopsis:
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 grapples with identity, family, and loss, as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
Watch the trailer below. In select theaters and On Demand July 28.