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Smoke Signals - DVD

SKU: 3687451 | Release Date: 9/28/1999

Rating: PG-13 for Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language

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Rating: PG-13 for Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language
Format: DVD
Theatrical Release: 1998
Length: 89 minutes
Screen Formats: Enhanced Widescreen for 16x9 TV
Genre: General Comedies
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Synopsis

This dramatic feature was written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans. Native American writer Sherman Alexie scripted this adaptation of his 1993 short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Director Chris Eyre's previous short Someone Kept Saying Powwow is incorporated into the 88-minute feature. Developed at the Sundance Lab in 1995, the film was a winner of both the Audience Award and the Filmmakers' Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. In 1976, an infant survives a fire that kills his parents. In a flash forward to the present day, the infant has grown up to become the skinny, nerdy adult Thomas (Evan Adams). At Idaho's desolate Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation, the overeager youth is mostly ignored by others, including stoic athletic Victor Joseph (Adam Beach), even though it was Victor's father, alcoholic Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer), who saved the infant Thomas' life in the fire. A drunken Arnold later abandoned his family, and Victor hasn't seen his father in a decade. When Victor learns of Arnold's death in Phoenix, Thomas offers to pay for the trip to Phoenix if he can accompany Victor. They make an odd couple since Victor is embarrassed by Thomas' geekiness. In Phoenix, they find that Arnold lived in a small trailer in the desert, and they meet Arnold's friend Suzy Song (Irene Bedard), who provides disturbing truths about Arnold that impact on Victor. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Version Details

Languages/Sound

Eng

Screen Formats

Enhanced Widescreen for 16x9 TV

Additional Features

Theatrical trailer Dolby Digital 5.1 audio Widescreen [1.85:1]

Cast

Adam Beach - Victor Joseph
Tantoo Cardinal - Arlene Joseph
Elaine Miles - Lucy
Robert Miano - Burt
Perrey Reeves - Holly
Cody Lightning - Young Victor Joseph
John Trudell - Randy Peone
Monique Mojica - Grandma Builds-the-Fire
Darwin Haine - Boo
Evan Adams - Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Michelle St. John - Velma
Tom Skerritt - Police Chief
Molly Cheek - Penny
Leonard George - Lester Fallsapart
Irene Bedard - Suzy Song
Simon Baker - Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Gary Farmer - Arnold Joseph
Cynthia Geary - Cathy The Gymnast
Michael Greyeyes - Junior Polatkin
Simon Baker-Denny - Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire

Crew

Costume Designer: Ron Leamon
Line Producer: Brent Morris
Set Designer: Dawn Ferry
Producer: Scott Rosenfelt
Co-producer: Sherman Alexie
Screenwriter: Sherman Alexie
Associate Producer: Roger Baerwolf
First Assistant Director: Jo Shilling
Executive Producer: Carl Bressler
Cinematographer: Brian Capener
Producer: Larry Estes
Sound/Sound Designer: Douglas Tourtelot
Associate Producer: Randy Suhr
Second Unit Director: Randy Suhr
Art Director: Jonathon Saturen
Executive Producer: David Skinner
Composer (Music Score): B.C. Smith
Casting: Coreen Mayrs
Co-producer: Chris Eyre
Director: Chris Eyre
Production Designer: Charles Armstrong
Editor: Brian Berdan
Book Author: Sherman Alexie

Smoke Signals: AMG Review
Perry Seibert , AMG

Smoke Signals gained notoriety for being the first major release to be directed by, written by, and star Native Americans. While the film takes a look at the many factors affecting the Native American community (alcoholism, reservation life), it also addresses in pointed, but not overbearing, ways the history of the Native American onscreen. The two lead characters represent these two areas of concern. Evan Adams, in a performance that should have received deafening praise, delivers Thomas' wonderful stories ("fine examples of the oral tradition") with a joy that is infectious. This character presents a strong argument that Native Americans were born to tell stories, so why should anyone question them directing movies? Adam Beach's Victor makes the difficult emotional journey in the film. He must learn to make peace with his personal history after his estranged, alcoholic father dies. His anger and stoicism are real, but they are also the masks of a young man who has hid from himself for too long. The character arguably represents the filmmakers' attitude toward their own history. What makes Smoke Signals special is that, while addressing specific aspects of Native American life, it is so universal. Everyone must confront where they came from (both personally and as a people) at some point in life. Smoke Signals should not be praised for being a Native American movie; it should be praised for being a warm, humorous, truthful film about people. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

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Smoke Signals - DVD

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Smoke Signals - DVD

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