About Drunktown's Finest

Inspired by a controversial 20/20 segment which branded the predominantly Native Gallup, New Mexico as "Drunk Town, USA," Drunktown's Finest follows a college-bound student, a young father-to-be, and a trans woman who aspires to be a model as they struggle to escape their reservation. Written and directed by Sydney Freeland, a Navajo trans woman, the film centers on the role of Indigenous queerness in Indigenous communities and its tensions with assimilated Navajos. [95 min; drama; English]

"Rather than dispel stereotypes [about Native Americans], Freeland spins them into moving human drama, achieving a delicate balancing act between heartbreaking realism and sincere optimism." — Inkoo Kang, The Wrap

"A goodhearted movie that you want to root for." — Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

"Infuses a familiar tale of small-town life and youthful disaffection with a crisp sense of hope teased out of Navajo tradition." — MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.