The story of Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s War Pony, which traces the lives of members of the Oglala Lakota tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, starts on the set of another film. As she awaited filming a scene in Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Keough struck up a friendship with extras Bill Reddy and Franklin Sioux Bob from Pine Ridge. She would later visit them at the reservation with Gammell, her producing partner, and the quartet’s energy began funneling the energy of their friendship into a cinematic form.
“The spirit of that summer informed War Pony,” Keough admits. Just as American Honey’s egalitarian end credits don’t attribute hierarchical titles to the artists involved in the film, so, too, does War Pony embody a spirit of collaborative creativity. In conjunction with the wider Pine Ridge community, Bill and Franklin’s experiences and stories of growing up...
“The spirit of that summer informed War Pony,” Keough admits. Just as American Honey’s egalitarian end credits don’t attribute hierarchical titles to the artists involved in the film, so, too, does War Pony embody a spirit of collaborative creativity. In conjunction with the wider Pine Ridge community, Bill and Franklin’s experiences and stories of growing up...
- 7/29/2023
- by Marshall Shaffer
- Slant Magazine
Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s War Pony embodies the unconventional spirit that’s marked the former’s acting career. Shot on location at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and starring a cast of indigenous Lakota non-actors, the film details the daily struggles of a hustler, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting), and a neglected middle-schooler, Matho (Ladainian Crazy Thunder). Structured in intertwining storylines, War Pony possesses a gritty essence, but for however uncompromising its glimpse into Bill and Matho’s stagnantly bleak existences may be, the film also feels generic in execution.
This can be chalked up to War Pony’s glaring, almost frustrating lack of nuance or specificity, as the filmmakers never effectively detail the characters’ relation to the various cultural, psychological, or historical intricacies of their milieu. Instead, they’re almost stubbornly focused on capturing an unflinchingly unvarnished view of day-to-day life on society’s fringes.
This can be chalked up to War Pony’s glaring, almost frustrating lack of nuance or specificity, as the filmmakers never effectively detail the characters’ relation to the various cultural, psychological, or historical intricacies of their milieu. Instead, they’re almost stubbornly focused on capturing an unflinchingly unvarnished view of day-to-day life on society’s fringes.
- 7/23/2023
- by Wes Greene
- Slant Magazine
"I hear you got an expensive new dog and a fancy job." "You mad at me?" Momentum Pictures in the US has debuted another new trailer for the coming-of-age indie film about Native Americans titled War Pony. It already opened in the UK last month, and opens in limited US theaters later this July - for those who want to watch. It first premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival last year in the Un Certain Regard section. Stunning, tender and utterly compelling, War Pony tells the interlocking stories of two Oglala Lakota men coming of age on the Pine Ridge Reservation. A powerful tale of life, hope and belonging on the reservation. This features spellbinding performances from first-time actors Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder, and created over a period of several years, in collaboration with real members of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The cast includes Wilma Colhof, Jeremy Corbin Cottier,...
- 7/13/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Riley Keough made her feature directorial debut with “War Pony,” which premiered at 2022 Cannes, where it won the Camera d’Or Prize for best first feature.
The newly minted “Daisy Jones and the Six” Emmy nominee co-directed the drama along with Gina Gammell from a script both directors co-wrote with Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy. “War Pony” follows the interlocking stories of two young Lakota men on the Pine Ridge Reservation as they face a world built against them and navigate unique paths to manhood.
At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) 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 (Ladainian Crazy Thunder) 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...
The newly minted “Daisy Jones and the Six” Emmy nominee co-directed the drama along with Gina Gammell from a script both directors co-wrote with Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy. “War Pony” follows the interlocking stories of two young Lakota men on the Pine Ridge Reservation as they face a world built against them and navigate unique paths to manhood.
At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) 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 (Ladainian Crazy Thunder) 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...
- 7/12/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“War Pony,” the directorial debut of Riley Keough and Gina Gammell that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, got a new trailer Wednesday via eOne’s Momentum Pictures.
The film follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. At 23 years old, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself and is determined to hustle his way to the “American Dream.”
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (Ladainian Crazy Thunder) can’t wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns his 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, Bill and Matho grapple with identity, family and loss as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
“War Pony” premiered at...
The film follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. At 23 years old, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself and is determined to hustle his way to the “American Dream.”
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (Ladainian Crazy Thunder) can’t wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns his 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, Bill and Matho grapple with identity, family and loss as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
“War Pony” premiered at...
- 7/12/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
"You know that you're not any different from them." Picturehouse in the UK has debuted a second trailer for the coming-of-age indie film about Native Americans titled War Pony. It's now playing in theaters in the UK as of this weekend, though strangely it still has no US release date set yet. This first premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival last year in Un Certain Regard. Stunning, tender and utterly compelling, War Pony tells the interlocking stories of two Oglala Lakota men coming of age on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It's a powerful tale of life, hope and belonging on the reservation. Featuring spellbinding performances from first-time actors Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder, and created over a period of several years, in collaboration with real members of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The cast includes Wilma Colhof, Jeremy Corbin Cottier, Woodrow Lone Elk, and Sprague Hollander. This is a very short 30-second promo,...
- 6/9/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Picturehouse Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for the award-winning ‘War Pony’, out in UK and Irish cinemas on 9th June.
The directorial debut of Riley Keough and Gina Gammell and co-written with first-time writers, Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy, a story of collaboration, with the directors working closely with members of the Pine Ridge community to shine a light on the Native voice and portray the gritty realism of growing up on a Reservation in modern-day America. At the heart of the film are two remarkable performances from newcomers Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder.
The film was awarded the Caméra d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for best first feature film, it has gone on to play numerous other festivals such as SXSW and was the Surprise Film during last month’s Glasgow Film Festival, receiving a wealth of positive reviews.
Also in trailers – Exclusive Trailer:...
The directorial debut of Riley Keough and Gina Gammell and co-written with first-time writers, Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy, a story of collaboration, with the directors working closely with members of the Pine Ridge community to shine a light on the Native voice and portray the gritty realism of growing up on a Reservation in modern-day America. At the heart of the film are two remarkable performances from newcomers Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder.
The film was awarded the Caméra d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for best first feature film, it has gone on to play numerous other festivals such as SXSW and was the Surprise Film during last month’s Glasgow Film Festival, receiving a wealth of positive reviews.
Also in trailers – Exclusive Trailer:...
- 4/7/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"Don't bring no drama into my teepee, okay?" Picturehouse in the UK has revealed the first UK trailer for the coming-of-age indie film about Native Americans and their authentic experiences titled War Pony. The film marks the feature directorial debut for both Riley Keough & Gina Gammell, and it first premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Stunning, tender and utterly compelling, War Pony tells the interlocking stories of two Oglala Lakota men coming of age on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It's a powerful tale of life, hope and belonging on the reservation. Featuring spellbinding performances from first-time actors Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder, and created over a period of several years, in collaboration with real members of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The cast also includes Wilma Colhof, Jeremy Corbin Cottier, Woodrow Lone Elk, and Sprague Hollander. The film played at numerous festivals last year and received mixed reviews. One...
- 4/6/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s feature directorial debut War Pony has seen its US and Canadian rights acquired by Momentum Pictures.
The movie which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard and won the Camera d’Or (awarded for Best First Feature Film), will play SXSW, tomorrow, March 16.
War Pony follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Bound by their shared search for belonging, each of the young men grapples with a world built against them, as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
Back in 2015, Keough befriended two extras on the set of American Honey—Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy. She introduced them to her best friend Gina Gammell, and a creative foursome was born. The stories in War Pony are drawn from Sioux Bob and Reddy’s own lives...
The movie which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard and won the Camera d’Or (awarded for Best First Feature Film), will play SXSW, tomorrow, March 16.
War Pony follows the interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Bound by their shared search for belonging, each of the young men grapples with a world built against them, as they navigate their unique paths to manhood.
Back in 2015, Keough befriended two extras on the set of American Honey—Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy. She introduced them to her best friend Gina Gammell, and a creative foursome was born. The stories in War Pony are drawn from Sioux Bob and Reddy’s own lives...
- 3/15/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The US drama is inspired by true events.
Les Films du Losange has taken French rights to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s directorial debut War Pony from Protagonist Pictures.
Premiering in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard earlier this year, the US drama follows two boys, played by newcomers Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder, growing up in South Dakota as they grapple with the different phases of their life.
The screenplay was inspired was true events and co-written by Gammel and Keough, who is better known for her acting roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and American Honey, with...
Les Films du Losange has taken French rights to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s directorial debut War Pony from Protagonist Pictures.
Premiering in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard earlier this year, the US drama follows two boys, played by newcomers Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder, growing up in South Dakota as they grapple with the different phases of their life.
The screenplay was inspired was true events and co-written by Gammel and Keough, who is better known for her acting roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and American Honey, with...
- 9/5/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Drama is co-directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell.
Picturehouse Entertainment has secured all UK and Ireland rights to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s War Pony, which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes on Saturday (May 28).
The deal was closed with UK outfit Protagonist Pictures, which is handling international sales.
Inspired by true events, the US drama follows two boys living in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, as they face the difficult realities of growing into adulthood. The two central roles are played by Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder.
It marks the directorial debut of Keough,...
Picturehouse Entertainment has secured all UK and Ireland rights to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell’s War Pony, which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes on Saturday (May 28).
The deal was closed with UK outfit Protagonist Pictures, which is handling international sales.
Inspired by true events, the US drama follows two boys living in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, as they face the difficult realities of growing into adulthood. The two central roles are played by Jojo Bapteise Whiting and Ladainian Crazy Thunder.
It marks the directorial debut of Keough,...
- 6/1/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Ahead of “War Pony“‘s Cannes debut in the Un Certain Regard section, the film’s directors, Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, posed with lead actor Ladainian Crazy Thunder and producer Willi White. The film is the product of a years-long friendship and cross-cultural collaboration among Keough, Gammell and Native American storytellers Franklin Sioux Bob and Bill Reddy.
“This story is tough and rooted in this space of struggle,” said producer Willi White. “But as I saw Riley and Gina’s relationship with Frank and Bill and the crew, how they worked with these kids (actors) and how they brought in our community, it allowed me to feel safe. I think they’ve been really intentional about building relationships in the community over a long time. And to hear feedback from some of the young actors who resonated with the story and talked about how it made them feel visualized,...
“This story is tough and rooted in this space of struggle,” said producer Willi White. “But as I saw Riley and Gina’s relationship with Frank and Bill and the crew, how they worked with these kids (actors) and how they brought in our community, it allowed me to feel safe. I think they’ve been really intentional about building relationships in the community over a long time. And to hear feedback from some of the young actors who resonated with the story and talked about how it made them feel visualized,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Photographed by Jai Lennard for TheWrap
- The Wrap
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