CHOOSE THREE of these questions to answer about the movie. Be complete and use
examples from the movie!!
The name of the book on which this book is based is The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven. What do you think this means, based on the story? Why do you think
the director of “Smoke Signals” changed the title?
According to the five truths about fiction, fiction is about characters and what they want.
What do the characters in “Smoke Signals” want, and what to they do to try and get it?
How do these wants shape their characters?
Thomas’s grandmother says to Victor’s mother at the beginning of the film that Victor is
a good name because “It means he’s gonna win.” Do you think Victor is a “winner” in
this story? What does he win?
The last line of scene 76 in the screenplay (chapter 15, 0:51:49 in the film), Arnold says
“I broke three hearts, too.” Whose hearts is he referring to? How does this one line sum
up Arnold’s character and his actions?
Near the beginning of the film, Thomas says, “You know, there are some children who
aren’t really children at all. They’re just pillars of flame that burn everything they
touch. And there are some children who are just pillars of ash, that fall apart if you touch
’em. Me and Victor—we were children born of flame and ash.” What does Thomas
mean by this? What images of fire and ash appear in this film?
This film repeatedly uses humor to comment on stereotypes about Indians. Identify some
of the humorous scenes in the film. Why might a Native audience find them funny?
What does being an Indian mean to Victor and Thomas? (Recall especially their
conversation on the bus when Victor ridicules Thomas for watching Dances with
Wolves so many times). Where do you think that Victor has gotten his ideas about how
an Indian should act?
Our images of ourselves and of other people come not only from our experiences of
ourselves and of other people, but also from movies, television, books, and other
media. How have Native Americans typically been represented in American popular
culture, especially movies? How does Smoke Signals conform to or break with these
images?
How does the soundtrack influence how you view the movie? Explain.
What other stories have you read or viewed that present similar ideas to this movie?
Explain.