Plot
This dramatic feature was written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans. Native American writer Sherman Alexie scripted this adaptation of his 1993 short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Director Chris Eyre's previous short Someone Kept Saying Powwow is incorporated into the 88-minute feature. Developed at the Sundance Lab in 1995, the film was a winner of both the Audience Award and the Filmmakers' Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. In 1976, an infant survives a fire that kills his parents. In a flash forward to the present day, the infant has grown up to become the skinny, nerdy adult Thomas (Evan Adams). At Idaho's desolate Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation, the overeager youth is mostly ignored by others, including stoic athletic Victor Joseph (Adam Beach), even though it was Victor's father, alcoholic Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer), who saved the infant Thomas' life in the fire. A drunken Arnold later abandoned his family, and Victor hasn't seen his father in a decade. When Victor learns of Arnold's death in Phoenix, Thomas offers to pay for the trip to Phoenix if he can accompany Victor. They make an odd couple since Victor is embarrassed by Thomas' geekiness. In Phoenix, they find that Arnold lived in a small trailer in the desert, and they meet Arnold's friend Suzy Song (Irene Bedard), who provides disturbing truths about Arnold that impact on Victor. ~ Bhob Stewart, RoviReview
Smoke Signals gained notoriety for being the first major release to be directed by, written by, and star Native Americans. While the film takes a look at the many factors affecting the Native American community (alcoholism, reservation life), it also addresses in pointed, but not overbearing, ways the history of the Native American onscreen. The two lead characters represent these two areas of concern. Evan Adams, in a performance that should have received deafening praise, delivers Thomas' wonderful stories ("fine examples of the oral tradition") with a joy that is infectious. This character presents a strong argument that Native Americans were born to tell stories, so why should anyone question them directing movies? Adam Beach's Victor makes the difficult emotional journey in the film. He must learn to make peace with his personal history after his estranged, alcoholic father dies. His anger and stoicism are real, but they are also the masks of a young man who has hid from himself for too long. The character arguably represents the filmmakers' attitude toward their own history. What makes Smoke Signals special is that, while addressing specific aspects of Native American life, it is so universal. Everyone must confront where they came from (both personally and as a people) at some point in life. Smoke Signals should not be praised for being a Native American movie; it should be praised for being a warm, humorous, truthful film about people. ~ Perry Seibert, RoviCast
- Adam Beach - Victor Joseph
- Evan Adams - Thomas Builds-the-Fire
- Irene Bedard - Suzy Song
- Gary Farmer - Arnold Joseph
- Tantoo Cardinal - Arlene Joseph
Credit
Jonathon Saturen - Art Director, Randy Suhr - Associate Producer, Roger Baerwolf - Associate Producer, Coreen Mayrs - Casting, Sherman Alexie - Co-producer, Chris Eyre - Co-producer, Ron Leamon - Costume Designer, Jo Shilling - First Assistant Director, Chris Eyre - Director, Randy Suhr - Second Unit Director, Brian Berdan - Editor, Carl Bressler - Executive Producer, David Skinner - Executive Producer, Brent Morris - Line Producer, B.C. Smith - Composer (Music Score), Charles Armstrong - Production Designer, Brian Capener - Cinematographer, Scott Rosenfelt - Producer, Larry Estes - Producer, Dawn Ferry - Set Designer, Douglas Tourtelot - Sound/Sound Designer, Sherman Alexie - Screenwriter, Sherman Alexie - Book Author| Smoke Signal (1955 Film), Smoke Screen (2010 Film) | |
| Smoke That Cigarette (1987 Film), Smoke Tree Range (1937 Film) |
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