Songs My Brothers Taught Me

In South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation, a Lakota Sioux teenager named Johnny is preparing to leave the reservation for college. He has a younger sister, Lily, who idolizes him and dreams of a life away from their reservation. Their lives are complicated by the recent death of their father and the complicated dynamics of family, tradition, and the harsh realities of reservation life. Johnny must confront his responsibilities to his family and his own dreams of escape.

Songs My Brothers Taught Me received widespread critical acclaim, praised for its authentic portrayal of Native American life, Zhao's sensitive direction, and the naturalistic performances of its non-professional cast. It was lauded as a powerful and intimate debut that offered a nuanced look at themes of family, loss, and the search for identity on the reservation.

• Hailed for its authentic and empathetic portrayal of life on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
• Praised for Chloé Zhao's sensitive direction and observational style.
• Celebrated for the natural and compelling performances from its largely non-professional cast.

Google audience: Audiences particularly appreciated the film's authenticity and its poignant depiction of family relationships and the challenges faced by young Native Americans. Many found the performances deeply moving and the storytelling to be raw and honest.

Won awards at the Sundance Film Festival (Screenwriters Award for Chloé Zhao) and the Independent Spirit Awards (Robert Redford Award for Chloé Zhao). Nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards.

The film was shot on location on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and features many actors who are residents of the reservation and are making their acting debuts.