Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals is a somewhat misunderstood film. The setting on an Indian reservation leads viewers to believe that Smoke Signals is about Indian issues or Indian philosophy. To be sure, the presence of Indian values and culture make this movie decidedly more enjoyable, but the movie is more transcendent, more universal than a purely Indian film. And, while this was heralded as the first movie to be written, directed and co-produced by Native Americans, there is something here for everyone, regardless of ethnicity.

More than anything else, this movie appealed to me as a writer. Taken from Sherman Alexie's brilliant collection "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven". it is beautifully written and expertly crafted from beginning to end. The first scene, narrated lyrically by Evan Adams as Thomas Builds-the-fire, sets the tone for a story handed down, as with Native American culture, in true oral tradition.

The French title, Le secret des cendres (The secret of the ashes) more accurately describes the book and the movie, both of which must be experienced to fully appreciate Alexie's genius. With multiple allusions to fire and ash, each having different meanings, as well as a well integrated use of Native American lore, Smoke Signals requires more than a little thought for the average American viewer.

The story revolves around two young Coeur d' Alene Indian men dealing with loss and the end of childhood innocence. The two men cope with loss in very different ways; Thomas though mysticism and legend, Victor through stoicism and denial. When Victor Joseph, brilliantly played by Adam Beach, learns that his estranged father has died, he and Thomas embark on a journey to claim the ashes, another allusion of the french title, and on the way get in touch with their identities as adults apart from their parents.

Evan Adams is stupendous as Thomas Builds-the-fire. His storytelling scenes are pure magic. By imbuing simple memories with mystical reverence, he elevates them, and thus both himself and his listeners, to a new spiritual level. His exaltation of the ordinary is the core of this delightful work of genius. It culminates with a reading, slightly modified, of Dick Lourie's poem "Forgiving Our Fathers". Lourie, who is a self-described unreconstructed beatnik poet, brings a fragile and elegant beauty to the film's emotional climax. The final scenes, driven by Adams' narration and haunting Native American chant and music, are nothing short of miraculous.

Adam Beach, strapping and stalwart as Victor Joseph, managed to parlay his appearance in Smoke Signals into a respectable film career. Evan Adams, diminutive and shy as Thomas Builds-the-fire, was not so lucky despite his masterful performance. Perhaps Admas' aspirations ran along different lines, as these days, even after starring in what is basically a sequel (The Business of Fancydancing, also by Alexie) Adams can now be called Dr. Adams, as he has become a respected and accomplished physician in British Columbia.

The supporting cast was equally magnificent, and each lends credibility and energy to the movie. An interesting sidenote is that Irene Bedard, who appears as Suzy Song, was the physical model for Pocahontas in the Disney animated feature.

I have seen this movie many times, and will undoubtedly watch it many more. Each time I am left in silent awe as I reflect on my own life, family, and philosophies.

I flew up to Seattle on the '98 July 4th weekend to see the matinee premier on the Friday. Sherman Alexie is a, of course, a well known poetry and prose writer in the Northwest, but this was his first step into cinema with a screenplay based on his short story, 'The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven.'

The premiere was at an old, Egyptian-themed cinema in Seattle and the house was half full for the 4:30 matinee. The audience was predominately Native American.

On exit, Sherman stood on the sidewalk in the late afternoon Seattle light and waited nervously like a child, to see the reaction to the film (which had ended with unanimous applauds from the half house audience). A film crew was there for exit polling.

A diminutive Native American female elder slowly approached Sherman. She moved forward and extended her arms around him into a hug and spoke softly, "Thank you."

Sherman was mush.

Don't miss this film. He's not 'the Spike Lee of Native American film making' as the Time Magazine of that week put it. He's an independent, regional film maker, whose background is the 'Rez.'

Despite Leonard Maltin's comment that Smoke Signals is "basically unexciting film-making," I found this movie deeply spiritual without being heavy-handed. The aspect of the film that captured my interest and has stayed with me is the story-telling of Thomas. The stories mingle simple, real-life recollections with fantasy, and the voice of Thomas subtly gives the movie a transcendent quality. Thomas is a modern-day medicine man, grounded in reality yet open to possibilities. He marvels at the beauty of the creation that surrounds him and dreams of what new wonders the future might bring. He is hope.

I intend to view this film many more times. It deals with tragedy without being tragic. It recognizes the sometimes brutal facts of reality without allowing brutality to define. It reveals sadness but not as an end in and of itself. It asks questions but leaves the answers to the viewer. And it affirms that there are answers and hope.

As babies, Victor and Thomas survive a housefire that kill many others; their bond appears to be born of fire but years later they have drifted apart. They both still live on the reservation but Victor has become more of a jock and Thomas is the bespectacled geek that he has been since childhood. When Victor's absentee father dies, he plays to travel to the funeral but has not the resources to do so. Thomas offers to help pay for the trip on the proviso that he is allowed to come along with his friend. Victor accepts but prepares himself to be annoyed for the whole journey. However for every moment where their nonexistent friendship is stretched, they grow closer.

Although it is an independent film and produced entirely by an ethnic minority, the plot for this film is fairly straightforward and not anything that is worth hunting out just for that. However it is the delivery, writing and charm of the film that makes it worth seeing and makes it as enjoyable and engaging as it is. Never taking itself too seriously and even poking fun at the ethnic stereotypes we would expect to have found the film's charm relies heavily on its characters to bring it off. The natural writing helps and produces dialogue that flows convincingly even when the story isn't all you could have hoped for. The direction is equally as assured and aids the film by giving the whole thing an accessible and down to earth story.

The cast are a strange mix of people I've never seen and Indian actors who are in everything. Beach is impressive and natural and he makes his character more than just a jock sort of role. Likewise Adams is enjoyable even if he is a little annoying and he is more than just a geek. Bedard is as charming as the film itself and is gorgeous with it – she carries a lot of the emotional weight of the film and she does it well. Farmer is a presence as usual and does well in flashback while support from people like Skerritt adds something if not a lot.

Overall this is not a flawless film but it covers any problems by being charming and enjoyable. The cast take to the writing and deliver natural and likable characters who become the focal point of the film and carry the audience along. Sure it pushes all the "quirky independent film" buttons but it is no less enjoyable for it.

The main trouble with Smoke Signals is that after you see it you will be disappointed with not only the rest of the movies or television you are likely to see but also with most of the films you have seen before it.Since too many people haven't seen it you will have to listen to people talk about "what dreams may come",or some such. You can't tell people that a guy sitting on a van giving a traffic report when there is no traffic,is more humorous than most sit-coms.But that is the trouble when a true 10 picture comes out, it tends to drop many of the others a point.If you haven't seen it rent it or better buy it. but be warned that you may be watching another movie and you will think "who needs this ----" i could be watching "Smoke signals"