Smoke Signals

      


 SMOKE SIGNALS

    I really enjoyed watching this film, it was very insightful and inspirational. Also the fact it is made and stared in only by Native Americans is amazing, since I know that representation is media is very important especially in diverse ways. Smoke Signals, which is the title of the film are considered a method of communicating with others, I think this title is significant because smoke signals can only be made from fire; which is a very important symbol within this film. I also believe it is also about communication which isn’t so positive throughout the movie; no one really admits how they really feel (well mostly Victor) and he was unable to because his father ending up dying before he could. In reference to Thomas, it could relate to his name –builds-the-fire, he was always trying to communicate feelings, emotions and stories for the benefit of other people.        
      The fact Thomas, seems to say whatever he wants or feels shows the contrast between him and others. Most Indians shown are shown to be big drinkers, I feel as if they are drowning away what they really want to say. That what has happen to their people is unfair, that their lives aren’t easy or fun. I appreciate this trait, Thomas doesn’t know when to stop at times but it isn’t because he wants to hurt people. I think he is very curious.  Thomas has the ability to tell great stories from his imagination that people want to hear. I think it’s his way to help people cope or even just himself. I also think this is why he and Victor clash so much, Victor keeps what he feels inside; he even said a real Indian is stoic. Which is wrong in a sense because he is just stating how Indians are portrayed in media such as old western films, instead of as a diverse people who don’t have to be a certain way; like Thomas.
                  Cowboys and Indians played a big role because in films it is always Cowboys vs. Indians, and most of the time Cowboys “won” which is sort of historically true if committing genocide is a way to “win”. Also the fact it is referred to Cowboys, the stereotypical American, and the Indians in the movies are the stereotypical Indians. When their seats are unjustly taken, by the stereotypical American. They do not really fight yet Victor says they are “warriors”. This can show the fact they feel helpless against the white Americans, which can be in relation to the history of the Native Americans. Road trip trope is considered a way people find themselves traveling somewhere, which is basically what happened which is ironic because it is a stereotypical American thing to do. I believe fry bread is their sense of home, it is probably the only place where they eat fry bread and when they talked about it, it was always a reminiscent of home and where they grew up. Fry bread represented their community back home that couldn’t be replaced.Also the theme of secrets were very important, the secret of what started that fire and what is caused fueled this whole story. I also think Suzie was a very important character, she kept on to Arnold's secrets which is a very heavy secret to bear but she does it anyways. This also shows jealousy, Victor was obviously jealous and suspicious of Susie he doesn't even say goodbye to her or thank you for letting him know how his father really felt.He didn't even think about how alone Suzie may have felt after his father passing, this showed how self involved Victor was and selfish; and that was someone he didn't even know, he treated Thomas even worse and Thomas still considered him a friend. Thomas always forgives, a trait Victor needs.
                   Everything burned in that fire”. The opening of the movie is the layout for the rest of the film, it seems as if nothing good ever happened after that fire. Thomas lost his family, Victors father began resenting himself for what he did to cause it and eventually ran away. The symbol of fire is important because in the beginning Thomas says him and Victor are born from both fire and ashes. Which is tragic in it’s own way, fire is powerful yet destructive; and ashes are considered the aftermath of destruction,but in the case of Victors father’s ashes it was completely different.Victor also says “an Indian man aint nothing without his hair” Yet the only Indian we see without short hair is his father, he did it after the fire because he felt as if what he did was so bad. He wanted to seek forgiveness that’s why he disappeared, which is a huge theme in the movie. Can we forgive others for what they have done and can we forgive ourselves for what we have done? This is also shown in Victor butchering his hair after realizing his father did really care about him after going through his trailer but still not being able to forgive him. The love hate relationship between father and son is very significant in this film, Victor has to decide whether or not to forgive his father for all the bad he has done. Also the role of inheritance is important because it shows what kind of person Victor is, he is a good person he doesn’t want to hurt anyone that is why he doesn’t drink like his father, and why he promises to come back unlike his father. But some things cannot be helped, Victor doesn’t realize he is much like his father in other ways such as violence, the only two people who are shown to be violent is Victor and his dad. Also Victor doesn’t want to hurt him mother but in the end he was by just wasting away and his potential. Also fire is also how a lot of things end, how Thomas parents dies, the fact Arnold is cremated, and the fact Suzie sets a fire to his trailer before she leaves. Fire is destructive but it can also mean many different things, resentment, love, death, endings, beginnings,  remembrance much like how little Thomas said Fires burn in different colors.
                     It also shows all flashbacks in Victors point of view are always violent and aggressive when it comes to his father, but Thomas’s memories of Victors dad is positive, like Denny’s and the fry bread eating contest; I think Victor is jealous of this. Also I believe the point of that was to show that Victors dad wasn’t all bad, but he made mistakes and ultimately asks the question for Victor, could he forgive him? I also notices Victor’s running represents two different things. The first time he runs because he can’t handle his life the second time to save a life. Which shows character development on his side.

                  I really though Thelma & Lucy were funny and entertaining, I assumed the reason they went backwards was because maybe that was a one way street, or they have been drinking so much they thought it would be funnier to do this. They are shown as the only young women in this community who speak, which can show how young Indians girls were just like how they showed Victor playing basketball with his friends. Also I never seen Thelma and Louise but I know it is considered a revolutionary and feministic film which can relate to Thelma and Lucy’s alternative view. Also I know in the end they drove off a cliff but not in reverse, maybe it is ironic they go backwards. The names are also representative like, Victor Joseph (considered a winner), and also given his second name from his father, which shows inheritance. While Thomas-builds-the-fire’s name is figured out till the end, you think his name is just Thomas, a “normal” name, but also shows how his name is tied into his culture. Usually native names are what they do for their community, but his name is also very depressing because his parents did die in a fire. Also the obvious Resentment towards Columbus is shrouded by humor. It is always shown as a joke, even the fact the community has a huge party on the fourth of July which in terms does not celebrate anything for them other than the destruction of their ancestors and culture for the “Americans.” There is also a lot of humor surrounding doing Indian things such as bartering, the oral word and things like that which maybe just be a generational gap rather than disrespect in my point of view. These kids are young, and they are growing up in a complete different way than their ancestors even though they live in a reserve they are all still affected by Americanization.