Smoke Signals Smoke Signals Is a 1998 Film Directed by Chris Eyre. It Was the First Feature

Name: ______

“Smoke Signals” “Smoke Signals” is a 1998 film directed by Chris Eyre. It was the first feature film written, directed, co-produced and acted by American Indians. “Smoke Signals” is set in 1998 and tells the story about two teenagers who live on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Idaho. Aside from being a film about Indians, this film is also about young people. Like other films about young people, this film is about a journey and the wisdom that two young people gain by taking a journey.

1.This film tells the story of the two teenagers by mixing the present (1998) and the past (1976). Why do you think the filmmaker tells his story in this way? Why doesn’t he simply tell the story chronologically from 1976 onward? Why does he go back and forth in time?

2. The DJ on the reservation’s radio station states: “It’s a good day to be indigenous!” Whatdoes this statement mean, and why do you think it’s in the film?

3. On the bus, why does Victor tell Thomas that he needs to “be more like a real Indian”? How does Thomas respond?

4. This film contains many metaphors: for example, Indians and July 4 (described in the film as“white peoples’ independence day”), Indians and driving a car backwards, Indians andfrybread, Indians and alcohol, Indians and cowboys, Indians and Christianity, Indians and theLone Ranger, and Indians and the image of the warrior. What do you think these metaphorsmean?

5. This film focuses on two central metaphors: the metaphors of fire and ash. For example,Thomas and Victor are described as “children born of fire,” and they later carry home theashes of Victor’s father. What are other images of fire and ash in this film? Do these imageschange in meaning during the film? For example, is fire always defined as somethingdestructive? Is ash always something that’s left over from fire — something that has nomeaning?

6. This film is about human relationships and how relationships change over time: for example,the relationship between Victor and his father and between Victor and Thomas. There arealso relationships between Thomas and his grandmother, and the relationships betweenVictor’s parents and Victor’s father and his girlfriend. In which relationships do the twopeople understand each other? In which relationships are there problems and bitterness? Inthis film, do people change in their understanding of relationships? How? Why?

7. In this film, several characters take physical journeys: for example, the journey of Victor’sfather away from his family, and the journey of Victor and Thomas. What does eachcharacter learn from these journeys? Are these journeys only physical or spiritual as well?

8. In this film, Thomas is constantly telling stories. Some people listen to his stories, but othersdo not. Why? Why do you think he tells stories? Is story-telling important in Indianculture? Similarly, is story-telling important in African, Asian, and Latino cultures?

9. What do you think the title of this film — “Smoke Signals” — means? What is the theme ofthis film, and how do the title and the images of smoke signals, fire, and ash relate to thistheme?