Smoke Signals (16 January 1998)
directed by Chris Eyre
starring Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Skerritt, Simon R. Baker
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MPAA rating: Studio: ShadowCatcher Script: Sherman Alexie Based on the book by: Sherman Alexie Music: BC Smith Running time: 88 minutes Tags: Comedy; coming-of-age; death; Drama; Indians; Native Americans; novel adaptation; Phoenix; road trip Tactical strength: [8/10]
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for some intense images
Two young Coeur d'Alene Indians, Victor (Adam Beach) and Thomas (Evan Adams), travel from their reservation in Idaho to Phoenix to pick up the cremated remains of Victor's father, Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer). Both Victor and Thomas have different views of Arnold: Victor hates Arnold for leaving Victor at age 12. Thomas reveres Arnold because Arnold saved the infant Thomas from a burning building. Of course, Victor, a basketball jock, and Thomas, a suit-wearing nerd, have conflicts for their own reasons. But Thomas strikes a bargain with Victor: Thomas will finance the trip to Phoenix on the condition that Victor takes Thomas with him to Phoenix.
Smoke Signals succeeds on many levels: as a coming-of-age movie where two young men learn that they have more in common than they thought; as a road-trip movie; as a light comedy; and as a portrait of Native American life. Alexie successfully weaves these aspects together into a story that you can watch again and again.
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