Deep, affirming film

Kurzbein

Despite Leonard Maltin's comment that Smoke Signals is "basically unexciting film-making,"  I found this movie deeply spiritual without being heavy-handed.  The aspect of the film that captured my interest and has stayed with me is the story-telling of Thomas.  The stories mingle simple, real-life recollections with fantasy, and the voice of Thomas subtly gives the movie a transcendent quality.  Thomas is a modern-day medicine man, grounded in reality yet open to possibilities.  He marvels at the beauty of the creation that surrounds him and dreams of what new wonders the future might bring.  He is hope.

I intend to view this film many more times.  It deals with tragedy without being tragic.  It recognizes the sometimes brutal facts of reality without allowing brutality to define.  It reveals sadness but not as an end in and of itself.  It asks questions but leaves the answers to the viewer.  And it affirms that there are answers and hope.

score /10

Kurzbein 21 February 1999

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0435802/