Smoke Signals

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The movie Smoke Signals is based on the series of short stories written by Sherman Alexie. Just like any movie, there is a meaning to it. Before this movie, when I thought of the phrase "Native American" I thought of things like feathers and societies that were impeccable. But after watching the movie, Smoke Signals, it portrays what being a Native American really means. It is not all fun and games. The protagonist, Victor Joseph, has many hard aspects of his life, but throughout it all he grows mentally. His personality in the beginning of the movie is mean and despicable, he is filled with wrath, but as the movie goes on his personality grows gradually. By the ending of the movie, he was a nicer and kinder.

When the movie begins, Victor is a mean guy, always picking on his cousin, Thomas Builds-the-fire, who was a very sage person, always telling stories. However Victor was a young boy his father left him. Victor’s father, Arnold Joseph, saved both of the boys from a fire that he involuntarily started on the 4th of July when the boys were babies. But he could not save Thomas's parents. But since the fire, Arnold has carried guilt on his soul, and was using alcohol to suppress the memory, he would constantly intoxicate himself. But as the years grow on, he begins to abuse his family. He runs from the problem, and leaves Victor behind. Since this day, Victor has been mean, and not respectful. The only person he was nice to was his mother. Thomas is a little bit geekier than most people, and Victor knows this. Thomas is always telling stories, and trying to get Victor's attention. Victor finds this very annoying, always telling Thomas he wants him to go away.

Throughout the beginning of the movie it shows Victors hostilit...

... middle of paper ...

...tor, and said they were drunk and harassing him, although it was the other way around. The police believed them, because of the fact they were Native Americans. After Victor explained that the can in his hands was his father, and everything that happened, they believe them and let them go.

As they were back on the road again home to the Coeur d’Alene reservation, Victor splits the ashes with Thomas, which shows the change that Victor has gone through. Before he couldn't stand his cousin, but now he had a close bond with his cousin. He treated Thomas with the respect that he deserved. Even with just the simple fact that he split the ashes with Thomas shows his change throughout the movie, it shows how his personality differs from the start of the movie. In conclusion Thomas learned a lot throughout the movie, he learned how to treat people right, and much more.

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