Study Guide for “Smoke Signals”
1
“Smoke Signals” is a 1998 film directed by Chris Eyre. It was the first feature film written,
directed, co-produced and acted by American Indians. “Smoke Signals” is set in 1998 and tells the
story about two teenagers who live on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Idaho. Aside from being
a film about Indians, this film is also about young people. Like other films about young people,
this film is about a journey and the wisdom that two young people gain by taking a journey.
1. This film tells the story of the two teenagers by mixing the present (1998) and the past
(1976). Why do you think the filmmaker tells his story in this way? Why doesn’t he simply
tell the story chronologically from 1976 onward? Why does he go back and forth in time?
2. The DJ on the reservation’s radio station states: “It’s a good day to be indigenous!” What
does this statement mean, and why do you think it’s in the film?
3. On the bus, why does Victor tell Thomas that he needs to “be more like a real Indian”? How
does Thomas respond?
4. This film contains many metaphors: for example, Indians and July 4 (described in the film as
“white peoples’ independence day”), Indians and driving a car backwards, Indians and
frybread, Indians and alcohol, Indians and cowboys, Indians and Christianity, Indians and the
Lone Ranger, and Indians and the image of the warrior. What do you think these metaphors
mean?
5. This film focuses on two central metaphors: the metaphors of fire and ash. For example,
Thomas and Victor are described as “children born of fire,” and they later carry home the
ashes of Victor’s father. What are other images of fire and ash in this film? Do these images
change in meaning during the film? For example, is fire always defined as something
destructive? Is ash always something that’s left over from fire — something that has no
meaning?
6. This film is about human relationships and how relationships change over time: for example,
the relationship between Victor and his father and between Victor and Thomas. There are
also relationships between Thomas and his grandmother, and the relationships between
Victor’s parents and Victor’s father and his girlfriend. In which relationships do the two
people understand each other? In which relationships are there problems and bitterness? In
this film, do people change in their understanding of relationships? How? Why?
7. In this film, several characters take physical journeys: for example, the journey of Victor’s
father away from his family, and the journey of Victor and Thomas. What does each
character learn from these journeys? Are these journeys only physical or spiritual as well?
8. In this film, Thomas is constantly telling stories. Some people listen to his stories, but others
do not. Why? Why do you think he tells stories? Is story-telling important in Indian
culture? Similarly, is story-telling important in African, Asian, and Latino cultures?
9. What do you think the title of this film — “Smoke Signals” — means? What is the theme of
this film, and how do the title and the images of smoke signals, fire, and ash relate to this
theme?