Songs My Brother Taught Me (2015)

Life on the Pine Ridge Reservation is told through the experiences of a young girl and her brother after the death of their absentee father. Each of them are trying to find their way with the brother working through a growing desire to leave while his sister searches for roots and role models in her community. Director Chloé Zhao again beautifully captures the middle American landscape and shines light on a culture that is often forgotten. The performances of Jashaun St. John and John Reddy as the siblings are very natural and realistic. I was surprised to learn that despite an extreme problem with alcoholism, alcohol is illegal on the reservation.