In the movie, Smoke Signals, two men from the Coeur d"Alene Indian Reservation, take a journey to Arizona. The trip turns into a philosophical journey as much as a physical one.
The two staring roles of this movie and the book are the portrayal of Thomas and Victor. Victor potrays as a rough indian guy from outside but emotional inside.Thomas is a guy who follows his heritage.
Movie is the story of two Indian boys on a journey. Victor is the handsome son of an alcoholic father who has abandoned his family. Thomas is a goofy young man who lost both 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 father dies, the two men set on an adventure to Phoenix to collect the ashes. The movie shows the ties that bind these two very different young men and embraces the lessons they learn from one another. .
Fire in the movie is made up and saving Thomas by Victor's dad Arnold.The death of Thomas's parents in fire is also made up.In book Thomas's dad died in war and mother died giving him birth.
``It's a good day to be indigenous!'' the reservation radio deejay tells his American Indian listeners as ``Smoke Signals'' opens. We cut to the station's traffic reporter, who scrutinizes an intersection that rarely seems to be used. ``A big truck just went by,'' he announces.
The radio station is a make shift trailer which highlights the economic condition of reservation life.
Thomas and Victor see two ladies driving backwards and they stop. They then ask the guys if they would like a ride for a trade "after all that is what Indians do."they referred to indian going backwards making no progress.
There is no mention of victor's uncles in the movies as it is in the book.
