Why You Should Watch Smoke Signals (1998)

Here's a video for a movie I'd bet many of you haven't heard and I'd also bet you would enjoy. Let us know what you think!

[@SamThaManEscamilla]

In the native American way when you cut your hair your mourning for your loved ones

[@pattymelt6577]

I think a big message in this movie is so subtle, maybe it was not intended. Thomas was Victor's very best friend, even though Victor viewed him as a pest. At first Thomas did it out of jealousy, I think, because Arnold was his hero. But he saw that when he mentioned Victor's father to him, he would release his anger, so Thomas served as a personal outlet. When he finally understood his father's pain he could see him as Thomas did. Victor tried to coach Thomas how to be native, but Thomas taught Victor how to be himself. It is a beautiful movie. It is an honest story; nothing slick about it. The cast really makes you want to know these people they are playing. I love the cadence in his voice when Evan Adams tells the stories.

[@johnw5242]

Storytelling is one of the many types of Medicine elders who have that particular skill use to heal, and to teach. Funny story about Gary Farmer that may suggest why this role was suited . . . One day sone elders sat him down because they were concerned about him playing so manh roles that reinforced the stereotyle of "The foolish, drunken Indian." As I understand the story, Mr. Farmer felt smart when he replied with his usual, "Well, I have researched rhe role and am well suited," to which, (much to Mr. Farmers chagrin), the elders replied, "Oh, we're glad you are keen to discuss your 'research.' " "So, about that . . . . ."

[@johnw5242]

Add to say, if uou enjoyed Smoke Signals, you'd also get a real kick out of "A Walk In The Woods" staring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte! 👍

[@EmilyKresl]

I love this movie and my mom and I reference it alot since 1998, I just rewatched it again after trying to get a friend who is dealing with drinking and issues with his dad as a child to help him. It really turned his perspective around and showed him it's ok to be angry but it's also ok to just let go and move on. We've all had hard childhoods once you really sit down and talk to people openly, I think it helps to find a spiritual angle too especially when you avoid Christianity and structured religion. Thank you for posting! ❤️❤️❤️

[@calvinwhitewolfjr9570]

It amazes me how many native Americans go on different paths in this movie. As for me I was adopted off The Rez and seeing a perspective. All the metrics have change .Thank you

[@eroughydue1147]

One of the best movies I have ever seen. There isn't a more authentic movie in my opinion.

[@andylindsey]

I watched this movie a few years back. I definitely recommend it. It was pretty good. The ending though, my gosh, it was AMAZING! One of the best speeches I've heard in any movie and a powerful ending. This is why I love movies, you have that one poignant moment that takes your breath away. This movie did that with the ending. The whole movie leads up to it. It's great.

[@art2736]

Very good movie. Not enough recognition. Saw it several years after it's original release.

[@kchuntinghawk5514]

I watched this movie when it came out and I'm from where Adam beach is from Winnipeg

[@WildwoodClaire1]

This is easily my favorite movie about Indians. It is so much richer and nuanced than typical Hollywood kitsch, which indulges in relentless "red-washing" (see Dances with Wolves, Little Big Man, and The Revenant for examples). By "red-washing," I mean reduction of myriad Indian cultures, traditions, and languages to a generic, innately peaceful, "at-one-with-nature" stereotype adored by suburban white, plastic liberals, who would be horrified by and reject ANY depiction of Indians as complex human beings capable of rapacity, hubris, cruelty, and every other human failing, just like the rest of us.

[@heman5077]

Very beautifully said! Especially the part of Suburban White Plastic Liberals its like its said in the movie "hippies were just white people trying to indians"

[@sgt1terrence]

I'm Shoshone Bannock. You're right. I was a young man when I was scolded for holding resentment towards others races. "She told me when you point a finger, 3 more point back." (Point your finger and then look at your hand you pointed with) I found out we were given black slaves and bought black slaves because after we was conquered who was gonna show us how to farm? Not white slavers. We raided each other for women and children to avoid inbreeding. Women to breed with and slavery. Children for slavery and later to breed with. We cry "stolen land" because we couldn't forget about past transgressions between tribes.

[@ADAM_NORMAN]

I was obsessed with watching this movie during high schiool life way back in 2001.... I think that the movie kind of portrays actual Native American life within The Reservation.... I can relate to the movie, by the way, on its subject matter/s.... And, I am good friends with that woman actress within this movie.... I met her at a Native American pow-wow sometime during this movie was being made and we became good friends since then.... As for the whole father-thing message at the end.... It is a great message that people like myself should hear, especially teenage boys.... Well, yeah, my father was similar to the father that left his family within the film.... We were father and son back in the 1980s.... He was my best friend, too.... When he left in 1987 over drinking and abusing his family and whatnot, my father just left us without any warning.... We never saw him again alive.... The next time that I saw him was at his funeral in 1994.... I will never forgot that day, even if I tried.... It was weird.... I woke up to my dad's favourite song playing on the radio called Hooked On You by The Covergirls.... An hour later my mother got a call saying my father was in a coma and expected to die soon from an overdose of medication that a nurse had done....

[@gilbertsatchell6866]

This is magic. I have give it away as gifts so people can learn, to study it, to see themselves. This and "Pow-Wow Highway are tied together with Gary Farmer who is one of the finest actors ever. He is alive when he acts, he doesn't act he is that person and you feel it, know it. During the movie Thomas's stories are a delight and teach us many things about ourselves. Get both movies and study them. It's like going to class on the first day at a real school where you learn how to be a human. Then give them to someone that need to see.

[@37Dionysos]

Great movie, Thanks. You know it's tough when you have to BACK your car across the prairie

[@lynejlamb4559]

I LOVED this movie when I saw it, and my grown son & I are going to watch it later today.

[@dudelydudeington9789]

I moved out to the Midwest and started dating Native women and they all told me about this movie. It's one of my favorites now. In the past few months, I've watched it about 5 times. Such a good movie.

[@carlton4610]

Thanks friend for thus fine write-up about the movie , SMOKE SIGNALS; 1998. It resonates quite strongly in myself as well. Emotions are dealt with in a way that is healing. I had sought this and this film helps very much. I was lucky to have found it when exploring independant movies. I was very much impressed at it's affirmative values, sense of humor and lightness, and it's ultimate forgiveness stated as a beautiful open-ended question answerable for each person .. Shall we forgive our fathers for being too forceful or for not being forceful enough...? Interactive is the word that comes to my mind as being the result of putting what is the main point of the movie in this question form.Each individual will summon their own questions and answer for themself.And I believe that is so usefully effective and physically so deeply healing. So ,yea , I love this movie and likewise recommend it from the very bottom of my heart !!!

[@elliecherise1968]

More than anything he hated his father for taking off and abandoning him and the movie is about him trying to come to terms with his relationship with his father. Like when he was talking to the young girl who told him his father seemed like a nice guy and he said "you didn't know my father" or the jackass that ran off on me so don't try to sugarcoat his personality and how he talked great about Victor to make Victor feel better because that's overriding how Victor felt about his own father. She was trying to be nice, but it doesn't work that way. The poem isn't native, but it's the best delivery especially at the end with the NA song. It's not about forgiving or not forgiving your father because that relationship is too complex and never fully resolved with some perfect answer or perfect solution. If you forgive your father everything will be right as rain and nice and pretty again.

[@TheDondajonhon46]

Wonderful review! This is a beautiful, important film.

[@Cjx0r]

best fry bread ever

[@saramcgee7355]

I love this movie.

[@MG-jj3pn]

It’s really a wonderful film!

[@thankgodimouttahere]

Great review. Ill watch.

[@chensel75]

Diggin the reviews mate, really enjoyed this movie when I watched it last year. Have you seen Embrace of the Serpent? Fantastic film.

[@myfriendisaac]

Hugely important movie 👏🏾🎬🍿 As poignant as it is funny!

[@mbraun16]

You should check out the movie, “Skins” by the same Director as Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre. I think it’s a more better movie. In my opinion anyway. You can actually find the full movie here on KZbin.

[@leila4509]

Hey, I watched Skins because I read your comment. I'm from Africa, so forgive me for my ignorance but shit man are some reservations in America really like that there was just such an air of hopelessness... Any other movies you might recommend?

[@mbraun16]

Leila check out Indian Horse on Netflix

[@leila4509]

​@@mbraun16 I watched Indian Horse, I loved it. It was incredibly painful but hopeful and healing. Thank you, my admiration for natives has only increased to go through so much and yet still rise and preserve your songs and traditions is the definition of strength. I would be damn proud of that heritage. 🙏

[@dc7294]

@@leila4509 I’m not native so I can probably only give a very surface level analysis to u, but regarding your question about the issues with reservations- reservations were and still are tools of genocide used by the U.S. They herded indigenous people onto reservations through force or by “treaties”, which natives were most often pressured into (so these most definitely were not mutual agreements). To this day, many reservations are poverty stricken and face many environmental + health issues because the U.S. gov and other white supremacist governors, mayors etc. deny them the ability to create businesses and build harmful things such as pipelines on their land that poison the local environment + water and put the natives at risk. Unfortunately, A lot of people suffer from substance abuse issues (like victor’s dad) due to the generational trauma of having to face the violence that has been enacted against them as well

[@EmilyKresl]

Check out skins and the movie dreamkeeper

[@sephuris5555]

You mean beside the fact that it's a classic movie that accurately represents the Indian reservation well at least as far as the colville, Spokane, and Coeur d'Alene reservations are concerned, I grew up on the colville Rez, got friends out both the Spokane Rez and Coeur d'Alene Rez as well

[@xJUDGExREDD55]

You want the truth or lies? I want both...

[@SoaringRedEagle]

Victorrrrrrrrrrrr..!!! 😂 🤣😂 🤣😂 🤣

[@melaniecravens7240]

I have and bought the movie

[@kevinpaddlety9832]

I’m in the same boat from Montana and I haven’t cut my hair??? Adopted out in the 50’s

[@forgeconway1388]

You should watch it because it’s the law and if you don’t you will Lose your cool guy card and get the lame guy card

[@sk8c848]

Can you do Wreck it Ralph 2

[@Patriot-hz8xk]

You lucky, I wish I was part indian 😢

[@TK_Tazzkooler]

Was this on tv why did i see this? In history class nvm my school was lazy

[@FabledHeroes3351]

I would if I could find the full movie online can anyone help me out with that?

[@enriquepena3431]

Soap2day

[@DrSwoose]

It’s available to rent on KZbin, or you can find it on DVD.

[@terrorangeoprary1795]

I searched smoke signals for cavetown's new album, But this is good too i guess

[@KBFilmsVideos]

Bru

[@christopherpechota4375]

Dude I'm the Lakota that you want on your side. Dm ask me anything.

[@Historian212]

Great movie, too many spoilers here, though.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Kurt, thanks so much for this excellent summary of this great movie. Cheers! 🫡 🙏🏽

[@snugglyduck6534]

The spirit has shown me that the wolf, canine, is a beast, we are the dog/canine - wrath/lust are our battles, why we should avoid alcohol - spirits. This shows how the invader has corrupted the soul of the man whose lands these were (forgive your fathers/they know not what they do/captives who are poisoned). I was also shown that Zombieland is a cautionary tale from the name of places: Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock all points of reference by introduction. When they are all together, they destroy a Native American souvenir store for fun, then run to Hollywood for the dream and end at the amusement park. It's a warning that America is cursed by their actions, their ignorance of spiritual ways and spiritual lands that the free spirits knew and honored, and they are being destroyed by their own hubris - they will eat each other, as dogs do when they go mad. For they do not even listen to the Spirit of Truth that warns them of what they are, they believe they are above the flesh, but instead become indulged in it: consumers - consumerism - until stories about cannibals are popular on their (Net)flix: Dahmer. You have wicked delights - Westworld (The New Lands to the West). This is why you don't mock the beliefs of others, their understanding, and their ways - that flag that says: Don't Tread on Me with the snake - that's truth in plain sight - it is taken out of context - you were warned - do not tread here - tread lightly - you'll wake the dead - quite literally.