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Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal ... see more see more... , Cody Lightning , Simon Baker - III , Michelle St. John , Robert Miano , Molly Cheek , Monique Mojica , Elaine Miles , Michael Greyeyes , Leonard George , John Trudell , Darwin Haine , Tom Skerritt , Cynthia Geary , Perrey Reeves , Chris Eyre

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 ... read more read more...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, Rovi

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82% liked it

9,683 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

29 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Chris Eyre

Release Date: June 26, 1998

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DVD Release Date: July 27, 1999

Stats: 919 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (919)

  • flixsterman
    February 2, 2011
    flixsterman
    I recently finished reading Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" and felt compelled to revisit Smoke Signals for about the 8th or 9th time. I love this film a little more every time I view it, which is easy to do considering that the first ti... read moreme I saw it I just wasn't that impressed. I had felt that, in their quest to have the first "All Indian" movie, they had sacrificed a little quality and technical expertise. Maybe I still feel that's true but it's not something I notice much any more. Now I find myself engrossed in the rich characters, especially Arnold (Evan Adams). Arnold is a misfit and yet he might be the most 'indian' character in the entire ensemble. He's bright, he's introspective, and he's terribly, terribly honest. Even when he's embellishing stories he is still exposing truths.

    Much like it's screenwriter, Smoke Signals is deceptively deep, intelligent and philosophical even if it's not perfectly crafted. .
  • ceWEBrity
    July 13, 2008
    ceWEBrity
    All right...objectively, this is just not a very good movie. The two main characters are an unlikable prick and an unlikable nerd, respectively, and the themes are telegraphed and insultingly obvious. But Smoke Signals is important simply because of its lineage - and even though ... read moreit's not that great, it's a difficult film to dislike. It's very earnest.

    I guess if your only exposure to Native Americans in film is, like, Indian in the Cupboard, this movie would be well worth seeing. As a cinematic craft, not so much.
  • gator681
    August 10, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Smoke Signals" starts at a celebration on July 4, 1976 on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation where Arnold Joseph(Gary Farmer) made a stuning catch to save the life of infant Thomas, while his parents died in a fiery blaze. Later, Arnold cut his hair short... read more before disappearing from the reservation, leaving behind his wife(Tantoo Cardinal) and young son, Victor. As an adult(Adam Beach), Victor receives word that his father died in Phoenix. But because he is broke, he cannot go there to claim the body and possessions. However, Thomas(Evan Adams) agrees to fund him, as long as he can tag along...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Smoke Signals" is a an endearing seriocomic road movie that is more concerned with the destination than with the journey.(I suppose there is some symbolism in the men going from the sight of a fire to Phoenix but maybe I'm just reading too much into it.) The movie is about redemption and forgiveness as Victor tries to reconcile the abusive father he once knew with the memories that other people have of him. That is why, as with any story, it does not really matter if it is exactly true, as long as the essence of it is right.[/font]
  • snakegeek1
    September 21, 2010
    snakegeek1
    *sigh* this review isn't going to be very long. it's mainly for the people who have seen it. All I can say about this movie is this: "Heeey Victor, I heard you Dad died" Yep that's all I can say. anyone who has seen the movie knows what I'm talking about.


    TRIVIA TIME: The fi... read morerst movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by a Native American.
  • donnarenee2006
    September 16, 2008
    donnarenee2006
    I actually thought the acting was cheesy with stupid lines. Not all natives talk that way. If only the actors were more realistic the movie would have been better. Sometimes, i think that it's best to speak in their own native tongue and have it in English diaglogue. It would hav... read moree worked better. It was promising, but i was hugely dissapointed.
  • ileo
    December 10, 2007
    ileo
    A great film! Hilarious!!
  • twflix
    August 8, 2011
    twflix
    There are no epic battle scenes. No high speed car chases. No real love interests. And I think that's part of its charm. This is one of the few movies that I can watch over and over again.
  • placeinthesun455
    April 10, 2011
    placeinthesun455
    for a rather generic 90s movie, there are some real things to like about it. the storytelling definitely adds to truth of the film--living purely in the concrete world vs. incorporating elements of embellishment, surreality, and pure fiction. the journey of father and son was a... read morelso quite poignant, even if it wasn't especially original. reasonably entertaining and a great springboard for discussion. I'd say it's on the good side of average.
  • esmutko
    April 20, 2010
    esmutko
    This is a great rental for you and your lady my friends. This story follows a 20-something Native American man whose alcoholic father leaves him at a young age, alone to take care of his mother, and in search of his identity. An emotional adventure combines resentment, guilt, t... read moreruth, and forgiveness in a partially comedic journey filled with disregard, and purpose. Give this one a shot, as it flies below the radar. In meeting with Director Chris Eyre, his aura exudes visionary, and his cinematic ablities are beautifully showcased in this film.
  • iamthethinman
    February 26, 2010
    iamthethinman
    I've long wanted to see this movie and always forgotten it whenever the opportunity has supposed arisen. For a period there when this movie came out when I had to real focus in my life, I studied a lot about Native American cultures. I wanted to see this not only because it was m... read moreade by American Indians, but because it was a slight comedy, which I felt was rare for modern setting movies. And this one works because it plays it all for realism.

    It has good performances and a smartness to keep it all grounded in the personalities and actual world of you, me and the real people these character represent. It?s a good movie that stands some viewing. It is short and sweet and hits the notes it needs.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
December 2, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

It was shocking to realize that as late as 1998, this was still one of the few movies made by insiders, written, directed, and acted by Native Americans. The father-son narrative is conventional but i... Full Review

Clint Morris
May 6, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A brilliantly performed movie....Beach is a knockout

Steve Crum
October 23, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Native American themed story has great moments

Martin Scribbs
July 5, 2004
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian

A resolutely so-so movie puffed beyond all recognition by non-First Nation critics looking to expiate their dimly-felt sense of historic debt.

Brian Mckay
May 23, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

A moving and engrossing look at life on The Rez for two Native American youths. Adam Beach's performance is admirable. Irene Bedard is gorgeous and mesmerizing. Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
October 27, 2002
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

It wasn't perfectly put together, the actors were sometimes too enthusiastic or not enough ... but it really touched me. Full Review

Philip Martin
July 31, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The good news is that Smoke Signals is a movie that requires no dispensation ...

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 2, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

The film pokes fun at the interface between life on "the rez" and the dominant white culture. It also reveals how ritual and friendship can be healing medicine. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
January 1, 2000
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

best film ever made that captures the real character and spirit of modern Native Americans Full Review

Maria Garcia
January 1, 2000
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

The central character is so superficially conceived that you never feel the force of his culture or ethnicity. Full Review

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    • Thomas Builds-the-Fire: Hey Victor!
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Smoke Signals Trivia

  • What movie did Thomas-Builds-The-Fire say this? "Hey Victor, what do you know about fire?" and "Hey Victor, what about your dad?"  Answer »
  • Victor said this in what movie? "Do you know what's more patetic than watching indians on TV, when indians watch indians on TV."  Answer »
  • What Native-American actor has roles in the following movies? * Smoke Signals * Windtalkers * Flags of our Fathers * Joe Dirt * Squanto: A Warrior's Tale  Answer »
  • What are the names of the two main characters in the classic movie "Smoke Signals"  Answer »
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