Smoke Signals Directed by Chris Eyre Released Essay

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Smoke Signals" directed by Chris Eyre

Released on video in June 1999 by Miramax films, Smoke Signals is the first full-length film that has been performed and directed by the American Indians. Smoke Signals is "from top to bottom, an American Indian production, and that makes it historically unprecedented" (Ward Churchill). Adam Beach and Evan Adams play the roles of Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire respectively. They are Coeur d'Alene Indians and the movie opens in Idaho on the fourth of July 1976. Thomas' parents who were alcoholics die in a fire and Arnold Joseph, played by Gary Farmer, the stepfather of Victor, saves Thomas. Arnold Joseph is seen to have a drinking problem and is eventually thrown out of the house by his wife. Arnold, leaving his son behind, goes off to live in Phoenix. After a long period of no contact with him, Victor finds out that his stepfather has passed away (Anonymous). Not financially very stable, Victor is worried about not being able to go to Phoenix and receive his father's ashes. Thomas is however willing to pay for the journey on the condition that he accompanies Victor. Victor does not have any other choice and although he never really liked Thomas, he agrees to the offer. Thomas and Victor both travel to take possession of Arnold's remains. Victor is the more serious and quiet type while Thomas is more of a storyteller. "Through storytelling, Thomas makes every effort to connect with the people around him" (Anonymous).

'The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" is the book by Sherman Alexie on which "Smoke Signals" is based.

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"The filmmaker makes imaginative use of references to popular cinema throughout the film" (Paul Bond). Victor accuses Thomas for possessing the knowledge about the American Indian by viewing "Dances with the Wolves" and being the serious one, he advises Thomas to mature up and spend time "looking stoic." Although the Americans had taken over the land of the Indians originally, Sherman has shown that the Indians had to ill feeling towards their culture and people like Thomas and his parents, who were celebrating the American Independence Day when they died, were blending in or at least trying to blend in. "You're leaving the Rez and going into a whole different country, Cousin,' one young Indian woman teases. But aren't they traveling in the United States? 'Damn right it is!' adds her girlfriend. 'That's as foreign as it gets'" (Janet Maslin). This cultural clash is seen from the moment both friend board the bus, and the audience experiences the racism, however cultural clash was not one of the main themes of the movie. The movie basically is about the resentment in the hearts of the people, like the resentment in Victor's heart for his father, and how they solve such issues and work their way past any ill feelings in their hearts.

'Smoke Signals" shows how Thomas and Victor, two people who are from the opposite ends of a spectrum, come together and the ties which keep them as such. It shows to the audience, generally the Americans that the Indians have not faded out or died and are very….....

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