Smoke Signals (1998)

Director:

Chris Eyre

Writers:

Sherman Alexie (book)
Sherman Alexie (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A new film from the heart of Native America.

Plot:

Young Indian man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear...

Plot Keywords:

Automobile Accident | Arizona | Narration | Phoenix Arizona | Trailer

Awards:

8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Adam Beach	...	Victor Joseph
Evan Adams	...	Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Irene Bedard	...	Suzy Song
Gary Farmer	...	Arnold Joseph
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Arlene Joseph
Cody Lightning	...	Young Victor Joseph
Simon Baker	...	Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Monique Mojica	...	Grandma Builds-the-Fire
John Trudell	...	Randy Peone
Chief Leonard George	...	Lester Fallsapart (as Leonard George)
Michael Greyeyes	...	Junior Polatkin
Darwin Haine	...	Boo
Michelle St. John	...	Velma
Elaine Miles	...	Lucy
Cynthia Geary	...	Cathy the Gymnast

Also Known As:

Secret des cendres, Le (Canada: French title)
This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense images.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35626) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, Plummer, Idaho, USA

Company:

ShadowCatcher Entertainment

Trivia:

The first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by a Native American. When Arnold (Gary Farmer) asks Victor of who is his favorite Indian, Victor replies 'nobody' which makes Arnold furious. Interesting to note though, is the fact that the name of Gary Farmer's character in Dead Man (1995) is 'Nobody'.

Goofs:

Continuity: When 12-year-old Victor beats Thomas up right after his dad leaves, he is wearing a white and red shirt under his button-up shirt. After he begins running, the undershirt changes to a completely red muscle-tee.

Quotes:

Thomas Builds-the-Fire: You know there are some children who aren't really children at all, they're just pillars of flame that burn everything they touch. And there are some children who are just pillars of ash, that fall apart when you touch them... Victor and me, we were children of flame and ash.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Her Song

Oh, I agree!

Just this evening I saw this film a second time. I live in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, while Czechs are obsessed with the Native Americans, they failed to catch many of the jokes I've been lucky enough to laugh at twice. I really wished I could translate the humor sometimes but then I thought, "If they aren't getting something I wonder if I'm catching less than a Native American will?" This film deserves multiple viewings.