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The film Smoke Signals will be shown 6:30 p.m. today in the Farinon Center Limburg Theater.
The movie was based on a book by Native American novelist, poet, and filmmaker Sherman Alexie, who will give a talk on “Without Reservations: An Urban Indian’s Comic, Poetic, and Highly Irreverent Look at the World” 8 p.m. Thursday at Colton Chapel (see related story). He wrote the screenplay for the film.
Set in Arizona, Smoke Signals is the story of two Indian boys on a journey. Victor (Adam Beach) is the stoic, handsome son of an alcoholic father who has abandoned his family. Thomas (Evan Adams) is a gregarious, goofy young man who lost both of his parents in a fire at a very young age. Through storytelling, Thomas makes every effort to connect with the people around him; Victor, in contrast, uses his quiet countenance to gain strength and confidence. When Victor’s estranged father dies, the two men embark on an adventure to Phoenix to collect the ashes. Along the way, Smoke Signals illustrates the ties that bind these two very different young men and embraces the lessons they learn from one another.
Directed by Chris Eyre and released in 1998, the movie runs 88 minutes. It features an Native American cast and crew. Alexie and Eyre served as co-producers.