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8th out of 166 books
—
31 voters
Smoke Signals: A Screenplay
Set in Arizona, Smoke Signals is the story of two Native American boys on a journey. Victor is the stoic, handsome son of an alcoholic father who has abandoned his family. Thomas is a gregarious, 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...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
July 8th 1998
by Miramax Books
(first published 1993)
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Smoke Signals can be loved because it is Indian written, produced, directed, and acted. Beyond this is a film that embraces the humour in the tragedy of a man's reservation life and how it affected his family and friends. It also contains scenes with the reservation's traffic/weatherman who is ensconced atop a motor home at a rural intersection and can report live via the reservation radio station. In addition, there are characters, story-tellers who are of a mystical bent, just to thicken the s...more
Smoke Signals is the screenplay for the wonderful independent film, loosely based on characters found in Sherman Alexie's collection of short stories, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven."
It delves into some of the realities of single parenthood, alcohol abuse, family dysfunction, and child abandonment issues, but somehow, it manages to be an entertaining, optimistic comedy with serious undertones.
Smoke Signals ends with a moving narration of "When do we forgive our fathers? In our t...more
It delves into some of the realities of single parenthood, alcohol abuse, family dysfunction, and child abandonment issues, but somehow, it manages to be an entertaining, optimistic comedy with serious undertones.
Smoke Signals ends with a moving narration of "When do we forgive our fathers? In our t...more
This is a movie adaptation of one of Sherman Alexie's short stories. When Victor's father dies, he must leave the reservation to go to Phoenix, Arizona to collect his remains. Victor has no way of getting there until Thomas (a young Indian storyteller that is the equivalent of an Indian Geek) offers to pay the way. The catch is that Victor must take Thomas with him. The two men have a history dating back to infancy, when Victor's father had saved Thomas from the house fire that had killed his pa...more
This is a great example of a revisionist western from the American Indian perspective. In addition to focusing on reservation life, the characters in the story are handling a difficult family drama in which a son must go on a journey to see to his father's burial. This father, a severe alcoholic, abandoned the family in an attempt to escape his guilt from a terrible accident.
It is, surprisingly, very funny. The main character is the lone wolf type, but he is forced to go on the journey with his...more
It is, surprisingly, very funny. The main character is the lone wolf type, but he is forced to go on the journey with his...more
I first saw the movie in a college english class, this sent me to look for the book. I really enjoyed the characters Victor and Thomas, especially Thomas. He's story telling was the best, you got irrated with Thomas and loved him for the simple nature that he was.
I loved the book/screenplay!!!! I believe this is bases on the book the Long Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.
I loved the book/screenplay!!!! I believe this is bases on the book the Long Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.
I can't wait to watch the movie! The story is fascinating.
The screenplay is good, but it's meant to be filmed. However, one of the coolest things about this publishing is finding out how the story evolved in the process of actually filming it. This would be particularly useful for someone who wants to learn more about writing/producing/etc screenplays.
The screenplay is good, but it's meant to be filmed. However, one of the coolest things about this publishing is finding out how the story evolved in the process of actually filming it. This would be particularly useful for someone who wants to learn more about writing/producing/etc screenplays.
The Smoke Signals Screenplay wasnt the best book I had ever read. I didnt really like it. The plot was ok though. It was a little sad. something I did like about the fact that it was a screenplay, was that it was easy to picture what was happening. What I had in my mind was almost exactly like the movie. I just didnt understand why it was called smoke signals.
I enjoyed this book a lot.It was very entertaining. My favorite characters were Thomas and Victor. It was weird and confusing at a couple moments. It kept changing the time period and got hard to keep track of. Even though it was confusing I liked the way it ended.
I really did like the story line and the fact that this story was written by, co-produced, and acted out all by Native American Indians. I am not a fan of reading screen plays at all, but did find the book very emotional and entertaining
Thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thoroughly enjoyed reading the screenplay. I've seen the film a dozen times and having read the screenplay only helped me get even deeper into the story. Highly recommend it.
This is a screenplay, so it was interesting to read from that perspective. I love Sherman Alexie's writing but I feel like a lot of the beauty gets lost in the stage directions. This is basically a film made up of the short stories included in "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" so I would recommend just reading the short stories.
The book does include a description of which scenes were changed in the movie and why. So I imagine if you were really into film makeing, or just a fan of b...more
The book does include a description of which scenes were changed in the movie and why. So I imagine if you were really into film makeing, or just a fan of b...more
I read this screenplay in preparation for a lesson with my sophmores. It was humorous, sad, and interesting. My only hope is that my students find the value in the story...we'll see.
This was a really fast read and the first screenplay I have ever read. It made me want to watch the movie! I like Sherman Alexie, but I would rather read something else of his!
Jan 13, 2013
Viktoria
added it
Love Sherman Alexie. An American Indian writer's voice all it's own. Honest, brave, and full of reality. Wake-up and listen--important insights.
I actually have not read this screenplay but if you have not seen the movie, rent it. It truly is an excellent movie and the dialogue is superb.
We had to do an essay on this play. Deconstructing it part by part and critically analyzing it.
My favorite and first Sherman Alexie! My favorite contemporary author!
Read this with my class every year. They love it and I love it.
Great movie and powerful and funny
I could go on and on
I could go on and on
Nov 06, 2012
Marija
added it
LOL, I loved the native humor :)
Jul 19, 2009
Jay Michael
added it
one of the best
The screenplay of one of my all time favorite movies. I picked up the book by chance at a Building 19. It has one of my favorite poems about Fathers in the back too, by a writer that resides in Massachusetts.
This story/film was taken from Alexie's book "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfighting in Heaven". If you haven't seen the movie, RUN TO THE VIDEO STORE, RENT IT, and WATCH IT! EXCELLENT!!!!
Jul 27, 2007
Libby
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who like reading screenplays
Shelves:
sherman-alexie
I think that it is really something that Sherman Alexie can re-work his characters and stories to fit the needs of a new project.
This screenplay is pretty funny, but not my favorite Native American piece I have read.
Nov 13, 2008
Christine
marked it as to-read
I really liked this movie. I should read this.
ok, I didn't read it but the movie was great!
what a brilliant darling funny one this is.
See the movie! Great story.
Dec 13, 2009
Wynne
marked it as to-read
Love this movie but after analyzing it in English, one looks at it in a different light. It takes you on your journey.
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Sherman J. Alexie, Jr., was born in October 1966. A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, he grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA, about 50 miles northwest of Spokane, WA. Alexie has published 18 books to date.
Alexie is an award-winning and prolific author and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a modern Native American. Sherman's best known works in...more
More about Sherman Alexie...
Alexie is an award-winning and prolific author and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a modern Native American. Sherman's best known works in...more
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31 ott. 21:15