Woman Walks Ahead (2017) – Historical Drama

Directed by Susanna White, Woman Walks Ahead is a quietly powerful historical drama that intertwines the story of a woman’s search for purpose with a nation’s struggle against injustice. Based on true events, the film follows Catherine Weldon (Jessica Chastain), a widowed Brooklyn artist who travels west in the 1890s to paint a portrait of the Lakota leader Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes). What begins as an artistic pursuit soon transforms into a confrontation with the U.S. government’s systematic efforts to dispossess Native Americans of their land and dignity.

Jessica Chastain delivers a layered performance, portraying Catherine as both vulnerable and determined, gradually evolving from an outsider to a committed ally willing to risk her safety for justice. Opposite her, Michael Greyeyes embodies Sitting Bull with quiet strength — a figure of dignity, wit, and sorrow who has endured decades of betrayal yet remains a symbol of resilience. Their onscreen relationship is the soul of the film: marked by tenderness, tension, and a mutual recognition of pain and perseverance.

Visually, the film is striking. Cinematographer Mike Eley frames the Dakota landscapes with sweeping, painterly beauty, highlighting the contrast between the vast, untamed land and the intimate human stories unfolding within it. Yet, amid the grandeur, the film maintains its focus on quiet, human moments — glances, silences, and conversations that reveal trust slowly built across cultural divides.

While the narrative occasionally follows the expected beats of a biographical period drama, its sincerity sets it apart. Rather than mythologizing Sitting Bull, the film portrays him as a man — complex, humorous, weary, yet unwavering in his spirit.

At its core, Woman Walks Ahead is about courage: a woman stepping beyond societal expectations and a people fighting to preserve their identity against overwhelming odds. Both intimate and expansive, it serves as a poignant reminder of the strength found in empathy, defiance, and solidarity.

⭐ Genre: Historical Drama
⭐ Director: Susanna White
⭐ Cast: Jessica Chastain, Michael Greyeyes, Sam Rockwell, Ciarán Hinds
⭐ Why It Matters: A moving portrayal of overlooked history that highlights both personal awakening and collective resistance.