As the character Thomas Builds-the-Fire in the 1998 movie “Smoke Signals,” Coast Salish actor Evan Adams is captivating to watch. It’s something you can see for yourself on the big screen when Children of the Setting Sun hosts a 25th anniversary showing of the film Friday, July 14 at Bellingham’s Mount Baker Theatre.
Adams realistically portrays a nerd who’s a dutiful grandson and a masterful storyteller, an annoyance to his wannabe friend Victor Joseph (Adam Beach). And although Thomas has a mostly positive way of looking at the world while navigating life in Idaho on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation where he has lived his entire life, it belies his tragic past.
In fact, the movie begins with a Fourth of July house fire that kills both his parents, and where Victor’s father, Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer), saves Thomas’ life by catching him after he is thrown from an upper-floor window.
“You did a good thing,” Thomas’ grandmother says to Arnold after he hands the infant to her, looking shell-shocked.
“I didn’t mean to,” he replies, shaking his head. It’s a powerful moment, and one viewers will want to revisit when Arnold eventually becomes abusive toward his wife and son, battles alcoholism and eventually drives off for good in his worn-down yellow pickup truck.
Victor won’t see him again until he and Thomas take an epic road trip to Phoenix to pick up Arnold’s ashes (and his vehicle). It’s there Victor will find out more about his father’s demons from Arnold’s young neighbor, Suzy Song (Irene Bedard), and eventually gain a different perspective about the man he both loved and hated.
A quarter-century after its release, the independently produced film remains a cinematic delight, partly due to the believable relationship between Adams and Beach, but also because the entire cast and crew were adept at giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at contemporary Native American culture.
Groundbreaking at the time as the first major feature film written, directed by and starring Native Americans, in 2018 “Smoke Signals” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The movie was initially billed as a “coming-of-age comedy-drama,” but it’s also a story about friendship and fathers, laughter and loss.
The screenplay was based on Sherman Alexie’s short story collection “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,” and the Spokane Tribe of Indians novelist and poet adapted it for the screen. Alexie — who will introduce the film at the July 14 event — came under fire for allegations of sexual harassment in 2018, and issued a public statement acknowledging and apologizing for his past actions.
Director Chris Eyre also deserves props for the movie’s success. The Cheyenne-Arapaho filmmaker was only 28 years old when “Smoke Signals” came out, but he brought a sensibility to the screen that infused the characters with humanity.
Tragic moments in the film are also often edged with humor, making them relatable, yet not maudlin. A good example of this is in a scene early on where Victor has just learned of his father’s demise. He heads to the reservation store to cash a check from his mother to help him buy a bus ticket to Phoenix and runs into Thomas.
“Hey Victor, I’m sorry about your dad,” Thomas says.
“How did you hear about it?” Victor queries, puzzled because he’s only just found out himself.
“I heard it on the wind,” Thomas says, affecting a meditative, soothsayer-like voice. “I heard it from the birds. I felt it on the sunlight … And your mom was just in here crying.”
The back-and-forth between Thomas and Victor is key to understanding “Smoke Signals.” Thomas grew up without his parents, but Victor’s home life is extremely dysfunctional until his father leaves. Thomas acts like Victor is his best friend, but Victor would rather hang out with his basketball buddies than listen to the endless stories Thomas tells.
Many of the tales center on Arnold, whom Thomas looks up to because he saved his life. But Victor doesn’t see his father as a hero, and he doesn’t want to hear about the time Thomas went seeking a vision at Spokane Falls and instead ran into Arnold, who took him to Denny’s.
It isn’t until the road trip — which Victor allows Thomas to come along on because he offered to help pay for the bus tickets — that their friendship eventually becomes a true one.
Those who show up to the celebratory screening can query Adams about his role as Thomas. He’ll be on hand following the screening for a Q&A with Alexie and Elaine Miles, who played Lucy. The actress known for her work on the television series “Northern Exposure” had two short-but-memorable scenes in the movie, and is sure to provide interesting insight.
The July 14 event will kick off with an opening song by the Westshore Canoe Family at 6 p.m. on the main stage, and members of Children of the Setting Sun’s Young Tribal Leaders Program will facilitate an audience-judged costume contest prior to the Q&A.
If you’ve never seen “Smoke Signals” before, rest assured doing so is worth your time. If you have, now’s the time to revisit a classic on the big screen.
For more information and tickets, go to mountbakertheatre.com.
