Smoke Signals (1998)

Top comments

1. 

   CSSCHNEIDER

   More films by First Nations Peoples please. And more Sherman Alexie, please. 6 years 10 months ago
2. 

   KloVero

   I've decided to watch this movie after seeing the very good documentary ''Reel Injun'' (strongly recommended) and I wasn't disapointed. I think films like these are important in the cinema industry. Directed by an indigenous guy, acted by indigenous actors, showing the life on the reserve and what it is to be ''indian'' today in our modern world. I've not only really enjoyed ''Smoke Signals'' and laughed with good heart to it (the John Wayne's teeth song was hillarous), but I also found it empowering to all aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. I loved the use and references to traditional culture but always in a very modern way. I loved how they fight back against the white cowboys with humour and culture. I don't know in the United States, but in Canada, aboriginal people were forced by law to go into residential schools from their earlier age to civilazed them. In those schools (the last one closed only in 1996), they have suffered many abuses of all kind, from phsycological (taken away from their family), physical (they were beaten up if their were talking their language) to sexual. Those kids never learned what home meant and how it felt to be love by adults around them.The generation of aboriginal people right now in Canada are the first one since more than 100 years to be raised by their parents. And all those abuses cleary had an impact on the level of alcoolism, violence and suicide within the aboriginal communities (The suicide rate is 5x higher in the aboriginal communities than in the non-aboriginal ones. For the Inuit, it raised to 11x higher.) I know what I'm saying here is more or less relevent to the movie, but I just think it's important that people knows that history. In any case, my point is that the young generation of native people are facing those problem in their communities, in their own family, and they want to go foward. They deserve to be proud of themselve and to be part of the world, and that's what this film is about in my point of view. Of course, I'm making all kind of analysis because I like to, but this movie is also just really a good comedy to enjoy. The only bad aspect it's that oh-horrible wig !! 8 years 10 months ago
3. 

   devilsadvocado

   A great memory from childhood. Love this film. 11 years 6 months ago

See all comments

Friends

Login to see which of your friends have seen this movie!