Smoke Signals

Theatrical Release Date: 1998 06 26 (USA)

UPC: 717951002945

Studio: Miramax

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language]

Summary: 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 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

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Audience Award – Sundance Film Festival Filmmaker's Trophy: Dramatic – Sundance Film Festival Best First Screenplay – Independent Spirit Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Independent Spirit Awards Best Debut Performance – Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Actor – Independent Spirit Awards

Features: Theatrical trailer
Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
Widescreen [1.85:1]

Smoke Signals

Format: DVD

Release Date: 09/28/1999

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 89 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Perry Seibert

Smoke Signals gained notoriety for being the first major release to be directed by, written by, and star Native Americans. While the film takes a look at the many factors affecting the Native American community (alcoholism, reservation life), it also addresses in pointed, but not overbearing, ways the history of the Native American onscreen. The two lead characters represent these two areas of concern. Evan Adams, in a performance that should have received deafening praise, delivers Thomas' wonderful stories ("fine examples of the oral tradition") with a joy that is infectious. This character presents a strong argument that Native Americans were born to tell stories, so why should anyone question them directing movies? Adam Beach's Victor makes the difficult emotional journey in the film. He must learn to make peace with his personal history after his estranged, alcoholic father dies. His anger and stoicism are real, but they are also the masks of a young man who has hid from himself for too long. The character arguably represents the filmmakers' attitude toward their own history. What makes Smoke Signals special is that, while addressing specific aspects of Native American life, it is so universal. Everyone must confront where they came from (both personally and as a people) at some point in life. Smoke Signals should not be praised for being a Native American movie; it should be praised for being a warm, humorous, truthful film about people. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Scott Rosenfelt  Producer 
Carl Bressler  Executive Producer 
Larry Estes  Producer 
Sherman Alexie  Screenwriter 
Chris Eyre  Director 
David Skinner  Executive Producer 
B.C. Smith  Composer (Music Score) 
Adam Beach  Actor 
Evan Adams  Actor 
Irene Bedard  Actor 
Gary Farmer  Actor 
Tantoo Cardinal  Actor 
Cody Lightning  Actor 
Simon Baker  Actor 
Michelle St. John  Actor 
Robert Miano  Actor 
Molly Cheek  Actor 
Monique Mojica  Actor 
Elaine Miles  Actor 
Michael Greyeyes  Actor 
Leonard George  Actor 
John Trudell  Actor 
Darwin Haine  Actor 
Tom Skerritt  Actor 
Cynthia Geary  Actor 
Perrey Reeves  Actor 

Country: USA