Smoke Signals Essay - 785 Words

The movie Smoke Signals is based on the series of short stories written by Sherman Alexie. Just like any movie, there is a meaning to it. Before this movie, when I thought of the phrase Native American I thought of things like feathers and societies that were impeccable. But after watching the movie, Smoke Signals, it portrays what being a Native American really means. It is not all fun and games. The protagonist, Victor Joseph, has many hard aspects of his life, but throughout it all he grows mentally. His personality in the beginning of the movie is mean and despicable, he is filled with wrath, but as the movie goes on his personality grows gradually. By the ending of the movie, he was a nicer and kinder. When the movie begins,†¦show more content†¦Victor has to go to Phoenix to get Arnolds ashes. Thomas offers money to help him get there, but there is one catch, Thomas has to go with him. Victor automatically says no, but after a little while he accepts the offer, having a little change of heart. From here on, Victors personality changes slowly but surely. As they are on their way to get his father’s ashes, two cowboys sit in their seats, but they won’t let them have their seats back, because the boys are Native Americans. This only makes Victor mad, and Thomas confused. When they get to Phoenix, they meet Suzy Song, who is the woman who lived next to Arnold. She tells Victor about how much Arnold talked about him, and how much he wished he could see him. She also told him about how the fire on July 4th was accidently caused by Arnold, because he was drinking. All these years Victor thought his father didn’t want him anymore, but he just didnt want to hurt his son anymore. After the boys got the ashes, and anything else that Victor wanted from his father’s trailer, they left without telling Suzy goodbye. Victor was still in denial about his father passing away, and everything that Suzy had told him. He yelled at Thomas te lling him he didn’t care about him or anything basically. Victor was driving and almost ran into a car parked on the side of the road, and went off the road. When they got out of the truck, it was a car accident caused by a drunk driver.Show MoreRelatedSmoke Signals By Sherman Alexie1051 Words   |  5 PagesIn Sherman Alexie’s film, Smoke Signals, Alexie uses different story telling devices to show the importance of forgiveness. Smoke signals provides a new perspective of Native American culture by submerging us into the lives of two Native American boys, Thomas and Victor. The movie begins with a fire on the Fourth of July on the Coer d’Alene reservation in Idaho, Victor’s father Arnold saves Thomas as an infant by throwing him out a window. The movie jumps ten years forward and Victor receives wordRead More The Smoke Signals Forgiveness Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesThe Smoke Signals Forgiveness Smoke Signals, written by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre, begins on July 4, 1976 on the Coeur d’ Alene Reservation. Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer), drunk while celebrating the independence, lit off a firework and set the Builds-the-Fire residence on fire, killing the parents of Thomas Builds-the Fire. Many people were already asleep in the house when the fire started, so no one saw Arnold’s mistake, which he kept a secret from the whole reservation. BothRead MoreMovie Smoke Signals By Sherman Alexie And Chris Eyre1175 Words   |  5 Pages The Truth According to Who Writer Sherman Alexie and director Chris Eyre explore the relationship between truth and fiction in storytelling and the complexities of the Indian oral tradition in the movie Smoke Signals. 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So he signed the proper papers, picked up his check, and walked over to the Trading Post to cash it. While Victor stood in line, he watched Thomas Buildsthe-Fire standing near the magazine rack, talking to himself. Like he always did. Thomas was a storyteller that nobody wanted to listen to. Thats like being a dentist in a town where everybody has false teeth. Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire were the same age, had grown upRead MoreEssay on Smoke signals847 Words   |  4 Pages The movie Smoke Signal is a story that portrays what a Native American really means. It is a movie based on story written by Sherman Alexie. Thomas is the narrator of the story. It’s just not a simple movie but it has meaning to it, which is the best thing about the movie. It shows the life of Indians and how their life was and what they had to deal with. The movie has two main characters name Victor and Thomas. The movie starts with a house that goes on fire and the man (Arnold Joseph) Victor’sRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Smoke Signals 931 Words   |  4 Pagesother than the Inuk people, and this is why this film has become important to First Peoples media, because of the film’s dedication to authenticity, revitalizing interest in long standing traditions. With Smoke Signals , Survivance is demonstrated differently than in Atanarjuat. In Smoke Signals , it was evident that Victor was influenced by stereotypes of Native Americans that were present in th e United States. For example there is the bus scene where Victor and Thomas traveled to retrieve theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Smoke Signals 729 Words   |  3 PagesSmoke Signals The movie, â€Å"Smoke Signals† is about a young Native American man named Victor. Victor grew up on a reservation. His parents, Arnold and Arlene both liked to drink and party. Arnold and his drinking habit spiral out of control. We see Arnold smack Victor and his mother around. This occurs when alcohol is involved. One morning after a night of partying Arlene wakes up to see that her son, Victor, is outside throwing beer bottles at his fathers’ truck. Arlene decides to stop drinking afterRead MoreSmoke Signals Elements Of Symbols790 Words   |  4 PagesClayton J. Walp Mr. Morill American Lit. and Comp. 25 September 2017 Smoke Signals: Elements of Representation Natural elements will often be viewed as symbols to represent a cycle of life changing experiences that will ultimately change the character forever on a deeper, spiritual level than what scratches the surface. Going through life, major events that change that person’s sense of direction and demeanor, for better or for worse, can be visualized as an element. Anger, sadness, loss of hopeRead MoreSmoke Signals By Sherman Alexie939 Words   |  4 PagesIn the movie Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie; one of the main characters is Thomas Builds-the-fire. It all begins around three in the morning when his parents held the biggest house barbecue for the entire world to see. Thomas Builds-the-fire, he is the child of fire and ashes. Nevertheless, he never had the opportunity to meet his parents from then on. In addition, he lives, talks, and acts like his grandma. Thomas Builds-the-fire has a strong soul and the potential to give hands when needed. I