Smoke Signals (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Smoke Signals | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Chris Eyre |
| Produced by | Carl Bressler Larry Estes Scott Rosenfelt David Skinner |
| Written by | Sherman Alexie |
| Starring | Adam Beach Evan Adams Irene Bedard Gary Farmer Tantoo Cardinal |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | 1998 |
| Running time | 88 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Smoke Signals (1998) is an independent film directed by Chris Eyre. The film was adapted from a short story in "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" by Sherman Alexie, where two Coeur d'Alene young men from the Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation in Idaho go on a trip to collect the remains of the father of one of them. The film is based on Alexie's short story, This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona.
It was honored for excellence in "Debut Performance" category for Evan Adams by the 14th Independent Spirit Awards (1998).
[edit] Plot summary
The story revolves around the trip that Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) and Thomas Builds-the-fire (Evan Adams) make from their homeplace in the Coeur D'Alene Indian Reservation, to Phoenix Arizona, where they go to retrieve Victor's dead father's belongings (Arnold Joseph, played by Gary Farmer). Throughout the film, often making use of flashbacks, the relationship between Victor and Thomas is shown to develop from two kids who grew together as neighbours and acquaintances, to become like brothers.
As it is narrated by Thomas at the beginning of the film, he was rescued by Arnold Joseph from a fire at Thomas's parents house during a fourth of July celebration (as it is revealed later by Suzie Song (Irene Bedard) to Victor, he had also been rescued by his father).
As both kids grow up, Victor becomes the alpha-male young man, whereas Thomas develops a pensive character, often playing the part of a storyteller. Neither of them lose sight of their identity as "Indians", but their perspectives differ, with Victor's estoic-pragmatical point of view, and Thomas's more idealistic and traditional (and romanticized to the point of watching "Dances with Wolves" countless times). This dichotomy continues all through the film and is the source of Victor's constant dislike of Thomas, and Thomas's fascination with Victor.
[edit] External links
| This article about a comedy-drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
