Smoke Signals

Title: Smoke Signals
Director: Chris Eyre
Actors: Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Gary Farmer
Type: Comedy, Drama

Summary and Analysis
Victor and Thomas are the two main actors of this movie. Victor’s father, Arnold saved Thomas from a fire accident. However the fire took Thomas’s parents’ life. Thomas worshipped Arnold because Arnold saved his life. However, Victor doesn’t like his father that much because his father is an alcoholic and always committed domestic violence. Finally, Arnold left his wife and his son and move to Phoenix. One day, Victor decided to go to Arizona to visit his father but he has no money for trip. Thomas said he could afford for the trip but he need Victor take him to Phoenix together. Thus, they started their trip to Phoenix. When they arrived in Phoenix, they met Suzie Song, Arnold’s friend. She told numerous stories about Arnold to Victor and Thomas. Victor realized the reason why Arnold became an alcoholic because of he is the person caused the fire of Thomas’s house. Victor started to understand his father but his father already passed away. They cannot talk, play basketball and stay together anymore...

Relation to Case Study
In Chapter 10, those students who have prejudice of racism irritated Francine and Tony. Their relationship is suffered from this unfair social problem. Even Tony insisted of keep this relationship goes on but it is too childish. In the movie, Victor and Thomas also experienced the racism problem during the trip to Phoenix. For example, their appearances look like a stereotype Native American. Eventually Thomas bought a T-shirt looks like an American, but their long hair and personality cannot hide their identity. So, in case study and the movie, 4 of them have racism problem.

Reaction of the movie
is a good movie for foreign students to know something about Native American. I can also totally comprehend the racism problem happened on them during their adventure trip. Also the relationship between Victor and his father also impressed me. Somehow people focus on the misunderstanding with their friends, but they may ignore the relationship with their parents. Arnold might not be a good husband and father, but he loves Victor. Victor found this issue after his father passed away. People should dissolve their family problem before it is too late.