'' Woman Walks Ahead '' is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Susanna White and written by Steven Knight . The film is the story of Catherine Weldon ( Jessica Chastain ) , a portrait painter who travels from New York to Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull ( Michael Greyeyes ) in 1890 . Chaske Spencer and Sam Rockwell also star . The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival September 10 , 2017 . It was released through DirecTV Cinema on May 31 , 2018 , before being released in a limited release on June 29 , 2018 , by A24
Toronto International Film Festival
2017 Toronto International Film Festival
Woman Walks Ahead