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:

Road | Fire | Trailer | Native American Reservation | Drunkenness

Awards:

9 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:

Le secret des cendres (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:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35626) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Iceland:12 | 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:

During the shooting of Lucy and Velma driving backwards, Elaine Miles (Lucy) acquired the skill of driving the car backwards. Hence, no stunt driver was needed. Miles performed the driving herself.

Goofs:

Continuity: The old pickup truck that leaves the Joseph house on the reservation has 10-lug rims, and when it is returned by Victor and Thomas, it has 5-lug rims on all 4 wheels. Obviously it's a different truck.

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 Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

A Million Miles Away

Excellent movie about just being Indian, from Indians.

I lived where this was filmed and really enjoyed the movie for the content and the location. The inside jokes about being Indian were great and since I no longer live on the reservation it reminded me of home. The story was believable and the actors brought it to life. I had to call my brother and tell him to watch it again and look closer at the end credits and background of the film, it is wonderful. Congratulations to the Cast & Crew.