Smoke Signals

 

The film Smoke Signals portrays Native Americans as genuine people. Smoke signals are about calls for help and that's really what this movie was about, Victor, Thomas, Arnold, Arleen, Suzy and everybody else calling for help. Referring to the title about the theme of fire, the smoke that originates from the first fire in the movie is what causes these events, and the smoke from the second fire brings about the beginning of resolution. Early on in the film it is stated that, "Sometimes to go forward you have to drive in reverse". This phrase directs the context of thought that the film follows about dealing with personal issues, this statement also portrays Thelma and Louise’s reverse driving throughout the film, we saw dealing with personal issues in order to fully understand a situation and move on from them was a strong Indian theme.  This motion of life and all actions have consequences and It is clear that both Victor and Thomas are somewhat troubled by their pasts and need to deal with their own personal tragedies. We see after the adventure of the road-trip, both return home to the reservation where they find some kind of closure and safety. In the case of Victor's father, Arnold Joseph he ran away from his responsibilities as a husband and father. He was in turmoil surrounding the deaths of Thomas’s parents which he caused ultimately do to the fire he mistakenly lit. Arnold became influenced by alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with his guilt. He also abused his wife which led him to become lost within the Indian society on the reservation.  His abandonment or reasoning for leaving left Victor with feelings of confusion which wasn’t until his journey with Thomas was he then able to understand why his father had left the reservation. Thomas was an expressive young man who lost both his parents in a fire at a very young age. Through storytelling Thomas makes great efforts to connect with people around him, while Victor seems to dislike Thomas constant talking and uses his own quiet expressions to gain strength and confidence, he follows the traditional Indian ways as best as he can and sees story telling as his purpose. Victor thinks that being stoic is the main goal of an Indian, and he gives Thomas advice on how to be an Indian man, such has keeping their hair free, and having stern looks on their faces.  This part in the movie stood out to me because shortly after Victor was giving him the demonstrations of faces they sang a songs about John Wayne's teeth, after their encounter with some cowboys who they fought for the right to sit in a certain seat this part shows the controversial setback they have with the white men which goes back to their identity. What kind of commentary does this film offer us in terms of understanding America? From the movie we learn about the dangers of drunkenness on a reservation, the reaction that some Indians have to living on a reservation, the tenuous relationships that Indians have with their families, and the confusion that Indians have in their relations with white men.