Smoke Signals

The short film Smoke Signals had a striking resemblance to the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This would make sense considering Sherman Alexie wrote the screen play and the novel. Characters, ideas, and events were similar between the two.

            The main characters of Smoke Signals, Victor and Thomas, had many similar characteristics to characters Rowdy and Junior/Arnold in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Rowdy was mean and tough as a child. His dad was an abusive alcoholic just like Victors. Junior was a “nerdy” Indian boy who wore glasses who has family members who have passed away. 

            Fire accidents happen in both the movie and the novel. The fire in Smoke Signals signifies a rebirth, especially for Victor because he comes to find out how it happened. Victor’s views about his father change when he realized that his father actually did love him and that he left only because he felt so horrible but didn’t mean to leave him and his mother behind. In the novel, Junior’s sister dies when her trailer catches on fire which could possibly signify a rebirth for her to move on to a better place like Junior was doing, going to a white school in search of better education and hope for himself in the future. He wanted more than what a poor Indian like himself was destined to have.