The Roof is a live action short film in the Launchpad series from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and was released on Disney+ on September 29, 2023.
Synopsis[]
After being sent to stay with his grandfather, a Cheyenne teen uncovers a secret that connects him to his family and community in a way he never thought possible.
Plot[]
Ray, a Cheyenne teenager, is sent to live with his grandfather Nick who is obsessed with fixing the roof of his house despite Ray's mother telling him not to do so as he could fall and injure himself. Ray finds Nick's behavior unusual as he disconnected the phone because it rang too much and seems slightly dismissive of Ray's very obvious orientation. Nevertheless, Ray opts to look after Nick should he attempt to fix the roof again. Ray goes into Nick's bedroom and finds a photo of Nick's late wife and a closet that contains a yellow dress with bells on it. Ray tries it on and Nick catches him, but once again dismisses his interest in it by making dinner for him.
Ray realizes that Nick's obsession with fixing the roof is because it is dripping water over his nightstand that contains a photo of his wife and has kept a bucket over it to protect it. Ray decides to take it upon himself to fix the roof with Nick reluctantly offering support before slowly warming up to his grandson. That evening, Nick builds a campfire and invites Ray where he tells him that he is a "two-spirit", just like his grandmother, implying that while they were not in love with one another, they loved each other enough to marry and start a family. He tells Ray that he sees a lot of his grandmother in him and would be proud of the person he became.
Nick reveals that there is a powwow happening that is being held for two-spirited people and brings Ray along with a newly made Cheyenne outfit for him. They reunite with Ray's mother who is proud of the event. Ray proceeds to dance with the other two-spirits with a quick flashback showing Nick teaching Ray the dance.
Cast[]
- Phoenix Wilson as Teenager/Ray
- Wes Studi as Grandpa/Nick
- DeLanna Studi as Mom/Bear Woman
- L. Frank Manriquez as Two Spirit Elder
- Landa Lakes as Two Spirit Elder
- Dancers:
- John M. Sneezy
- Buffalo Barbie (Travis Goldtooth)
- Geronimo Louie
- Irene Bartelt
- Maxine Flores Orozco
- Ricky Two Bears
- Teresa Littlebird
- Auriah Begay
- Aiko Little
- Ruby Dee Carino
- Drummers/Singers:
- Glen Begay
- Joshua B. Hayes
- Reginald Begay
- Terry Hinsley
- Ronton Flores
Trivia[]
- This short film marked the final Disney production to use the 2011 variant of the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures logo.
- The subtitles simply call the two leads "Teenager" and "Grandpa", but the credits reveal their names.
- The family depicted in the movie are of Cheyenne origin. Wes Studi, as well as his niece who plays his daughter, DeLanna Studi, are of Cherokee origin while Phoenix Wilson is Canadian-Anishaabe.
- All the people attending the powwow are real two-spirit Native Americans. One of them, John M. Sneezy, died shortly after production had wrapped.
Gallery[]
