Independent film sends 'Signals' of excellent cinema

It seems as if many of today's movies have lost their direction. During the summer, audiences flock to large, special effects films such as "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact," leaving little room for smaller gems such as "Smoke Signals."

And what a shame that is. "Smoke Signals" represents one of those smaller summer movies that people might have heard of, but were too busy seeing "Blade" to shell out money for. Director Chris Eyre's rookie effort is the first major motion picture written, directed, and produced by Native Americans, and an example of independent filmmaking at its best. With novelist and first-time screenwriter Sherman Alexie - taken from his short story collection "The Lone Ranger and Tonto First Fight in Heaven" - Eyre tells a personal story of how it feels to be indigenous in the '90s.

Courtesy of Miramax Irene Bedard and Adam Beach portray Native Americans in 'Smoke Signals.'

Gone from "Smoke Signals" are the cliches of the savage native or the noble savage, to which Native Americans have been relegated in film. Replacing this long-held stereotype are complex characters - showing Native Americans not as the aggressors or victims of Hollywood Westerns, but as people.

While the plot itself is simple, the themes developed are deep and universal. Adam Beach and Evan Adams co-star as Victor Joseph and Thomas, respectively. Victor's estranged father, Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer in a virtuoso performance) has passed away, and Victor and Thomas set out on the bus to recover his ashes. Despite the fact that Victor hates the alcoholic father who abandoned him and his mother, Thomas adores him, because Arnold saved him from a burning house when he was a baby.

Victor, due to financial constraints that Thomas can ease, reluctantly agrees to let Thomas come along. Unlike the quiet, somber Victor, Thomas is talkative and nerdy. Whereas Victor's hatred of his father consumes him, Thomas is happy-go-lucky. But this is not all that annoys Victor about Thomas. Thomas' favorite movie is "Dances With Wolves," indicating to Victor that Thomas has no idea how to be a real Native American.

When Victor and Thomas finally arrive at Arnold Joseph's home, they meet Arnold's neighbor and only friend Suzy Song (Irene Bedard). Suzy paints Victor a picture of his father he is not familiar with. In Victor's mind, Arnold is still the drunken, abusive father of his childhood. For Suzy, however, Arnold is the kind, recovered alcoholic who has found himself. Victor sees the father who beat him for spilling his beer and the man who left his mother when she insisted they sober up. Suzy knows the man who chauffeured her and was a surrogate father figure.

"Smoke Signals" is made up of small moments, however, which really drive the movie home. On their bus trip, two redneck cowboys take Victor and Thomas' seats, staking claim to them and refusing to leave. Victor and Thomas do not give in to their aggressors and turn the incident into a brawl between cowboys and Indians. Instead, they pick up and move to other seats at the back of the bus. Knowing violence won't help the situation, Victor and Thomas devise a song about John Wayne's teeth that unnerves everyone on the bus. In the film's best scene, Arnold Joseph recounts a basketball game he and his son played against two Jesuit priests. Gary Farmer manages to stir every emotion as he bounces a basketball and cries to the heavens of the day when two Native Americans defeated their white oppressors. The moment is captured with such grace and power that it leaves the viewer breathless.

While "Smoke Signals" has a distinct indigenous point of view, the themes crossover to the masses. Whether the film explores the effect of Christianity on a people upon which it was thrust, the pain of a broken home, the effect of alcoholism on a family, or the difficulty of forgiving loved ones, a person need not be Native American to appreciate this movie.

For their first full-length feature, Alexie and Eyre deserve heaps of praise. Alexie's script is humorous and moving without being juvenile or maudlin. Eyre shoots Alexie's script beautifully and does wonders with the actors. Evan Adams and Adam Beach's performances are spectacular; they portray the different sides of reservation life. But this film belongs to Gary Farmer whose name is on a short list of actors who have given Oscar-worthy performances. It is an absolute joy to discover Farmer's art, as his character grows throughout the film.

"Smoke Signals" is one of the year's best films, and a must see. After you've seen "Armageddon," "54" and "Blade," see why bigger storytelling always beats bigger budgets.

09-09-98