Segment analysis of Smoke Signals
The film entitled Smoke Signals, directed by Chris Eyre deals with the lifestyle of Native Americans living on an Indian reservation in Idaho. The main characters Victor (Adam Beach) and Thomas (Evan Adams) grew up together on this reservation. Thomas is a nerd who enjoys telling stories that have no interest to anyone. His parents died in an accidental fire in 1976, he was saved from the fire by Victors father Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer). On the other hand Victor is a tough kid that never got over the fact that his father left his family when he was young. After ten years of suppressed anger, Victor gets news that his father has died. He is given the opportunity to travel to Phoenix, Arizona in order to collect his father’s ashes and personal belongings. Victor does not have much money and is forced to travel with Thomas who offers his life savings in order to help fund the trip to Arizona, on the condition that Thomas is able to go along on the trip. Arrangements are made and they set off to Phoenix, where they encounter many challenges together. When they return to the reservation, both Victor and Thomas have found new respect for each other as well as for Arnold Joseph. The overall theme
The cinematography of this last scene in the film is categorized as continuity editing, in which the sequence was maintained as a continuous and clear narrative action. The sequence encompasses Victor’s triumph over the anger he felt towards his father, and towards society in general. The closing scene not only reflects Victor’s accomplishment, it also relates to the all the other Native Americans on the reservation. Throughout the film the Native Americans are depicted as a minority society that live in poverty and closed off from the rest of the world. Their belief is to remain on the reservation and not evolve as a society a concept that Victor and Thomas were able to over come when they left the reservation and took on the adventure of venturing out in the real world. When Victor releases his father’s ashes into the river he is releasing all the anger that he had inside, he’s releasing the anger that the Native Americans have towards the settlers and in return accepting life through a new point of view. Victor’s ability to forgive his father for abandoning him allows him to continue his life as a happy individual. This concept may also reflect on the lifestyle of all the Native Americans on the reservation, through Victor’s actions they are able to renew their spirituality and continue living as human beings. As the sequence s
Some topics in this essay:
Native American,
Native Americans,
Phoenix Arizona,
Victor Thomas,
Arnold Joseph,
Evan Adams,
Gary Farmer,
Smoke Signals,
native americans,
Chris Eyre,
angle shot,
calm stream,
crane shot,
bridge crane shot,
arnold joseph,
low angle,
victor thomas,
releasing anger,
shot bridge,
low angle shot,
lifestyle native americans,
native americans reservation,
sequence film,
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Approximate Word count = 912
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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