Smoke Signals

1998 - Miramax

It’s interesting to see how well a movie holds up over time. Is it still relevant? Does it speak to the current generation? Or is it forever trapped in the past, out of step, unable to relate to the current times? I recently watched one of my favorite films from 1998, Smoke Signals, and I asked myself those same questions. Would I be disappointed or would it reinforce my belief that Smoke Signals deserved all the acclaim it received?

It had won several awards that year, including Best Picture, at the Sundance Film Festival. I was not disappointed. Smoke Signals transcends time with a universal message that is just as relevant today. It was the first feature movie written, directed, and acted entirely by Native Americans. It offers a fascinating perspective on Native American culture rarely seen in today’s media. And it’s done through humor as Native Americans are poking fun at themselves. “It’s a good day to be indigenous”, as the weather report says on the reservation radio station KREZ.

Smoke Signals not only helps Native Americans to better understand themselves but also transcends culture and speaks to all of us. The director, Chris Eyre, describes the movie as a “universal story about fathers and friends and forgiveness”. The story centers around two 20-year-old, modern day Coeur d’alene Indians, Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) and Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams), who leave their Idaho reservation to retrieve the ashes of Victor’s father, Arnold (Gary Farmer), in Arizona.

Both characters are completely different from each other but are linked together through their relationship with Victor’s father. Victor has a somewhat ambiguous relationship with Thomas as he is trying to understand his friend’s pain. Along their way, they are presented several challenges that will help lead them to discover life’s meaning and possibilities. I love “road pictures”. It’s never about getting to the destination. The journey is always a metaphor for something greater. The real story is what happens to Victor and Thomas on their journey.

Will they unlock their past? Can they develop a friendship? And what about life’s big question, “Are we willing to forgive and move on?” Smoke Signals is an honest film willing to take a hard look at Native American culture. It allows the viewer insights. Sometimes the world it portrays can be harsh with alcoholism and quiet anger to the outside world that surrounds the reservation. But it also celebrates Native American traditions such as oratorical storytelling. Fry bread is used several times in the film and serves as a vehicle to introduce Christian elements into the story as Thomas tells Victor, “It is used for communion”. It’s an interesting mix of Christian symbolism and Native American traditions.

I especially enjoyed the witty and poignant dialogue. I have to warn you that this is a talking movie. It’s all about “the story” so don’t expect any action sequences. The film goes back and forth between two time periods that are woven together with seamless flashbacks.

Smoke Signals is a very spiritual film that I think could change the way you think about forgiveness. “How do we forgive our fathers? Maybe in a dream. Do we forgive our fathers in our age or theirs? Or in their deaths. Saying it to them or not saying it.”

We are all on a journey to forgive someone as we seek our own forgiveness. Smoke Signals is available on DVD for less than $10 at most online stores. It is highly recommended.