Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals is a story about two young men, Victor and Thomas on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho. Victor is a basketball player who blames his father for being an alcoholic killing Thomas parents in a fire that he set while he was drunk. Thomas on the other hand was saved by Victor’s father from the house fire and regards him as a hero. When word comes that Victor’s father has passed away in Phoenix Arizona Victor has to go pick up his ashes. Thomas finds out about this and wants to go with Victor to retrieve the ashes. Victor is hesitant because he finds Thomas to be a liar and doesn’t like him but decides to let him go because he needs a car to travel cross country. The trips turns out to be a life changing event where they see the world outside of the reservation and grow as people while never leaving sight of their Indian heritage. The two men grow much closer to each other by going though many situations on the road. When the two men finally return to the reservation days later they have a new found respect for one another and Victor even gives Thomas some of his father’s ashes.
This is a very good film that captures the identities of both men very well. You are truly able to see the two men grow and mature throughout the film as they encounter problems of racism, car accidents and meeting Victor’s father’s wife. I enjoyed watching this movie and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a good life changing movie.