The Cinematheque

35mm Print

“It’s not hard to see why Smoke Signals resonates: The movie is filled with humour, heart, and genuine affection for its characters, hitting notes of sadness, introspection, and well-earned catharsis.”

Nick Clement, Variety

Iconic cannot begin to describe Smoke Signals, which is often recognized as the first fiction feature written, directed, and co-produced by Indigenous Peoples to be distributed nationally and internationally. Cheyenne and Arapaho director Chris Eyre and writer Sherman Alexie (Spokane Tribe of Indians) team up to share a heartfelt story that connects generations. Victor Joseph (Adam Beach, Saulteaux), rooted to his Coeur d’Alene reservation home in Idaho, takes a journey of self-discovery after he is tasked with collecting the cremated remains of his estranged father (Gary Farmer, Cayuga Nation). Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams, Tla’amin First Nation) tags along with Victor to Phoenix, Arizona, to retrieve the ashes. Eyre draws from the oral storytelling tradition, sharing an intergenerational tale of family trauma and unlikely friendship, told with poignancy and humour.

35mm print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive

Filmmaker’s Trophy, Audience Award
Sundance 1998

“Original, audacious, entertaining, and an all-round impressive debut.”

Geoff Andrew, Time Out