Smoke Signals
A new film from the heart of Native America.
1998 • 89 min • Drama · Comedy
Synopsis
Young Native American man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. Arnold soon left his family, and Victor hasn't seen his father for 10 years. When Victor hears Arnold has died, Thomas offers him funding for the trip to get Arnold's remains.
Our family guide
Best from age 13- 68 Audience · 117 · 100%
Two young men from the Coeur d'Alene reservation embark on a road trip to claim the ashes of Victor's estranged father. As they travel, they navigate their complex pasts and their friendship, sharing stories and confronting their intertwined histories.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 4/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 2/10
Heads up
- Discussions of alcoholism and abandonment
- References to past trauma and death
- Mild thematic elements surrounding racism
What it models well
- Forgiveness and reconciliation
- Understanding family history
- Friendship and mutual support
- Cultural identity
Talk about it after
- Complexities of father-son relationships
- The power of storytelling
- Overcoming past trauma
- Exploring Native American culture and identity
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Smoke Signals. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Kanopy
HooplaFree with ads
- YouTube Free
YouTube FreeRent
- JustWatch TV
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
JustWatch TV
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Chris Eyre • Crew: Sherman Alexie
Trailers & clips
Smoke Signals - Trailer
Reviewer notes
No critic reviews aggregated yet.
Fan reviews
Sign in to rate and reviewBe the first fan to review this.
Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 6.8/10 (117)
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- IMDb
- tt0120321
