Smoke Signals

I found myself in a conversation about the anger that it seems everyone feels toward their parents (or a parent) at one point or another during the course of their lives. It reminded me of a little movie I rented about a year ago called "Smoke Signals", based on a couple short stories by Sherman Alexie. Small though the movie was in terms of distribution and box office, it was a stunning coming of age story. The movie is also notable because it is the first feature film made by a Native American crew and creative team. The cover says it's a comedy ... but it's not. There are some very funny things that go by ... but there are very funny things in life too. That doesn't make life a comedy.

Beyond that, there is the sheer number of awards it has won:

• 1998 American Indian Film Festival: Best film
• Christopher Award
• 1998 First Americans in the Arts: Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Sherman Alexie), Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Film (Evan Adams), Outstanding Achievement in Directing (Chris Eyre)
• 1998 Gotham Awards: Nominations: Open Palm Award
• 1998 National Board of Review: Special Recognition For Excellence In Filmmaking
• 1998 San Diego World Film Festival: Best American Independent Feature; Best Screenplay (Sherman Alexie); Best Actor (Adam Beach); Best Director (Chris Eyre)
• 1998 Sundance Film Festival: Filmmaker's Trophy Chris Eyre); Audience Award. Nominations: Grand Jury Prize
• 1998 Taos Talking Picture Festival: Taos Land Grant Award (Chris Eyre)
• 1998 Tokyo International Film Festival: Best Artistic Contribution (Chris Eyre) (tie)
• 1999 Chlotrudis Awards: Nomination: Best Actor (Evan Adams)
• 1999 Florida Film Critics Circle Awards: Best Newcomer (Chris Eyre/Sherman Alexie)
• 1999 Independent Spirit Awards: Best Debut Performance (Evan Adams). Nominations: Best Supporting Male nomination (Gary Farmer), Best First Screenplay nomination (Sherman Alexie)
• 1999 Young Artist Awards: Nominations: Best Performance in a Feature Film-Supporting Young Actor (Cody Lightning)

On a personal level, it gave me an insight into my relationship with my parents - both of whom have been gone for some time.

Rather than outline the plot (you can find that by following the linked film title above), let me just leave you with the closing lines from the last scene of the movie:

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 scarin' us with unexpected rage or for making us nervous because there never seemed to be any rage there at all.

Do we forgive our fathers for marryin' or not marryin' our mothers? Or divorcin' or not divorcin' our mothers?

And should we forgive them for their excesses of warmth or coldness?

Shall we forgive them for pushin' or meanin' or shuttin' doors or speakin' through walls or never speakin' or never bein' 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?

My take: In the end, no one does the right thing.

On another level, the movie has a wonderful subtext that shouldn't be missed. No matter how different we may seem culturally, we are all human beings first and the similarities between us are far more striking than any cultural differences we might pick out. There cannot be a better lesson in these troubled times.

Four Stars and Two Thumbs Up. It doesn't take a big Hollywood budget and a mainstream studio to make a picture that can move you, teach you, comfort you and help you to explain yourself to yourself. As a matter of fact, those things would probably get in the way.