In the film Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre created the movies setting on an Indian reserve in 1998. It’s about Indian issues and Indian philosophy. According to some film specialist reviewer who commented on this movie, it appears that misunderstanding about this film might have arose due to its setting. 

    This story released on the Fourth of July on a small Idaho Indian reserve. Two Indian boys, Victor and Thomas move throughout this film facing stereotypes, strong roles of violence and alcohol, and also a very important tradition of storytelling. In this little town, most of the homes were not huge or full of nice and expensive things. I would call this a very run down town but it really helped the audience see how much everyone appreciated everything they did have. After Victor’s father left, he spent most of his time taking care of his mother. After Thomas’s parents were killed, he spent all of his time taking care of his grandmother. When the boys decided to travel to go see Victor’s father who had recently passed away, the setting really set the mood. He had been living in a trailer, without a running vehicle, in the middle of the hot dessert. This movie was set up to seem like the olden days and that really put the boys’ values into their right place. Back in the day more people appreciated family and love.

            One of the most important themes in Smoke Signals is the full understanding of a person’s past and how the past of their ancestors is essential for their future and also for self-healing. Victor had such a dark and pessimistic attitude the whole time after his father had left him and his mother. He could not find a way to heal from his past or forgive his father for how much he had hurt Thomas. Even though we do not know this for sure, it can be assumed that Thomas knew all along about what Victor’s father had done. Within this movie there are cultural tones, self-destructive behaviors, and hardships of overcoming stereotypical atmospheres. The scene when Victor was talking with Susan and found out that his father had gone back for him was a huge turning point in the film. He started to heal the whole in his heart after he knew that his father did not want to leave him.

         If I have to base my knowledge of the Native Americans solely on the cinematographic representations (movies), I will think that  Indians are essentially those isolated red skins people with feathers on their heads and arrows on their backs, carrying tomahawks and knives with their naked bodies glistening with oil. I honestly think that   Smoke Signals is such a great, heartwarming film that not only represents the Native American culture but also teaches a life lesson about how much control you have over letting your past affect your future. Even though some people might have a misunderstanding about this film, it is full of valuable culture information and also full of humor. Laughing during a movie is always the best part. The ending of the movie is the most important part. Right when Victor spreads his dad’s ashes, he finally forgives and forgets about his past and if ready to move ahead. 

Reference: Smoke Signals