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Smoke Signals

  • 1998
  • PG-13
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Evan Adams, Adam Beach, and Irene Bedard in Smoke Signals (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer1:04
1 Video
65 Photos
Buddy ComedyComing-of-AgeQuirky ComedyRoad TripComedyDrama

Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold's son Victor resents his father's alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family.

  • Director
    • Chris Eyre
  • Writer
    • Sherman Alexie
  • Stars
    • Adam Beach
    • Evan Adams
    • Irene Bedard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Eyre
    • Writer
      • Sherman Alexie
    • Stars
      • Adam Beach
      • Evan Adams
      • Irene Bedard
    • 139User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 15 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos1

    Smoke Signals
    Trailer 1:04
    Smoke Signals

    Photos65

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    + 58
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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Adam Beach
    Adam Beach
    • Victor Joseph
    Evan Adams
    Evan Adams
    • Thomas Builds-the-Fire
    Irene Bedard
    Irene Bedard
    • Suzy Song
    Gary Farmer
    Gary Farmer
    • Arnold Joseph
    Tantoo Cardinal
    Tantoo Cardinal
    • Arlene Joseph
    Cody Lightning
    Cody Lightning
    • Young Victor Joseph
    Simon Baker
    Simon Baker
    • Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
    Monique Mojica
    • Grandma Builds-the-Fire
    John Trudell
    John Trudell
    • Randy Peone
    Chief Leonard George
    • Lester Fallsapart
    • (as Leonard George)
    Michael Greyeyes
    Michael Greyeyes
    • Junior Polatkin
    Darwin Haine
    Darwin Haine
    • Boo
    Michelle St. John
    • Velma
    Elaine Miles
    Elaine Miles
    • Lucy
    Cynthia Geary
    Cynthia Geary
    • Cathy the Gymnast
    Gary Taylor
    • Cowboy
    Perrey Reeves
    Perrey Reeves
    • Holly
    Nicolette Vajtay
    • Julie
    • Director
      • Chris Eyre
    • Writer
      • Sherman Alexie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans.
    • Goofs
      There is no way that one bus driver could have driven the same bus continuously from Idaho to Arizona. Federal law would prohibit it.
    • Quotes

      Thomas Builds-the-Fire: How do we forgive our fathers? Maybe in a dream. Do we forgive our fathers for leaving us too often, or forever, when we were little? Maybe for scaring us with unexpected rage, or making us nervous because there never seemed to be any rage there at all? Do we forgive our fathers for marrying, or not marrying, our mothers? Or divorcing, or not divorcing, our mothers? And shall we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness? Shall we forgive them for pushing, or leaning? For shutting doors or speaking through walls? For never speaking, or never being silent? Do we forgive our fathers in our age, or in theirs? Or in their deaths, saying it to them or not saying it. If we forgive our fathers, what is left?

    • Crazy credits
      Any similarity to actual persons, living, dead, or indigenous, is purely coincidental.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Out of Sight/Smoke Signals/Doctor Dolittle/Picnic at Hanging Rock/Insomnia (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Her Song
      Music and Lyrics by André L. Picard Jr.

      Performed by André L. Picard Jr. and John Sirois

    User reviews139

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    Overlooked masterpiece

    This film did not get the attention it deserved. When I first heard about a film made by Native Americans, I was afraid it would be an exercise in political correctness. But the ethnicity of the characters took a back seat to the universal themes of friendship and learning to come to terms with one's past. This is one of the greatest "buddy movies" ever made. A couple of years after I saw it I drove through the American Southwest for the first time, and images of the film kept coming into my head. This is a film which really stays with you.
    • andiam123
    • Feb 12, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Smoke Signals?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 19, 1999 (Netherlands)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona
    • Filming locations
      • Worley, Idaho, USA
    • Production companies
      • ShadowCatcher Entertainment
      • Welb Film Pursuits Ltd.
      • Nortel
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,745,362
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $43,574
      • Jun 28, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,745,362
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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