Plot

Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.

Now young adults both floundering in life, native Americans Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire grew up together and still live on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho. Despite masculine and athletic Victor not only not considering slight, bespectacled Thomas a friend but being quite annoying in Thomas never having had much of a filter, especially as he tells one story after another, the two will be forever tied together in Victor's father, Arnold Joseph, having saved Thomas when he was an infant from a house fire after an Independence Day party 1976 that killed Thomas' parents. That tie is also despite Arnold having left the reservation about ten years ago to live in a trailer outside of Phoenix as Victor's mother, Arlene Joseph, kicked him out due to his drinking and violent behavior. As such, Victor and Thomas view Arnold differently, Victor with anger and love, the latter due to their blood ties, and Thomas with reverence. When Victor and Arlene learn that Arnold has just died, Victor, with he and Arlene not having the money, feels somewhat forced to accept Thomas' offer to fund his trip to Phoenix to deal with Arnold's belongings and retrieve his cremated remains, Thomas' only stipulation that he be able to come along on the trip. In their concentrated time together on the road trip, including some time with Arnold's next door neighbor Suzy Song who arguably knew more about the true Arnold than anyone else, Victor and Thomas may come to some new understandings about their relationship and about their thoughts concerning Arnold.—Huggo

Young Native American man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. Arnold soon left his family (and his tough son Victor), and Victor hasn't seen his father for 10 years. When Victor hears Arnold has died, Thomas offers him funding for the trip to get Arnold's remains, but only if Thomas can also go with him. Thomas and Victor hit the road.

Smoke Signals is a humorous yet serious story about Victor, a young man who Director Chris Eyre describes as "trying to forgive his father." The movie gives us a glimpse into the contemporary Native American world, and is created by an almost exclusively Native American cast.

The story begins with a glimpse of two baby boys, one barely rescued from a fire which consumes his parents. We briefly see them grow up and learn of the tension between them. They are opposites. The rescued orphan boy Thomas becomes a naive but positive nerd with over-sized glasses, while Victor - who is to embark on a journey of forgiveness towards his father - is proud of his Native American stoicism and seems to find pleasure in confrontation.

Victor's father left when he was a boy, and he now learns that his father just died, and his mother sends him to collect the ashes. He is only able to make the trip with Thomas' help, however, and there is a condition which is difficult for him to accept: Victor must swallow his pride and take Thomas with him.

The young men are as different as potatoes and strawberries, and through their tension and close proximity they learn from one another - about the world, about Victor's father, and most of all - about themselves. It is an enjoyably paced sentimental and funny film, which gives viewers a look into the Indian culture, and of course - themselves.