Soldier's Home
“Reading” a Film – Smoke Signals
Segment 1 0:00:00 – 0:30:00 Begins with: opening credits Ends with: Thomas telling his story about Denny’s
1. What is the significance of a person cutting their hair? Why would Arnold Joseph cut his hair?
2. The writer and director intended to include the 4 elements – fire, earth, air, water. Where do we see any of these elements?
3. What is the effect of all of the time shifts in the film?
4. How does Thomas feel about Victor’s father?
5. What is Victor Joseph’s attitude toward his father when he begins his journey?
6. Describe each relationship Thomas and Victor have with their home and the women that raise them.
7. Fry bread is a symbol in this film. Where do you see the fry bread? How can it be a symbol in this segment?
8. How is KREZ different from radio stations run by non-Indians? What was the screen writer attempting to tell us by repeatedly referring to the station in the film?
9. In the film Victor Joseph’s mother makes him promise several times that he will come right back from Phoenix. He says: “I promised you I would. You want me to sign a written contract, Mom? She replies, “Nah, we Indians have a thing about signed documents.” What was she referring to?
10. What are some historical references mentioned in the film?
11. Describe the relationship between Thomas and Victor.
12. Describe the life depicted on the reservation so far. What do you think are the writer’s and/or director’s feelings about the reservation?
Segment 2 0:30:00 – 1:01:00 Begins with: Victor’s painful flashback about his father’s leaving Ends with: Victor going into his father’s trailer
1. How is the importance of hair mentioned in this segment?
2. How is the reality of life off the reservation made clear for Victor and Thomas?
Segment 1 0:00:00 – 0:30:00 Begins with: opening credits Ends with: Thomas telling his story about Denny’s
1. What is the significance of a person cutting their hair? Why would Arnold Joseph cut his hair?
2. The writer and director intended to include the 4 elements – fire, earth, air, water. Where do we see any of these elements?
3. What is the effect of all of the time shifts in the film?
4. How does Thomas feel about Victor’s father?
5. What is Victor Joseph’s attitude toward his father when he begins his journey?
6. Describe each relationship Thomas and Victor have with their home and the women that raise them.
7. Fry bread is a symbol in this film. Where do you see the fry bread? How can it be a symbol in this segment?
8. How is KREZ different from radio stations run by non-Indians? What was the screen writer attempting to tell us by repeatedly referring to the station in the film?
9. In the film Victor Joseph’s mother makes him promise several times that he will come right back from Phoenix. He says: “I promised you I would. You want me to sign a written contract, Mom? She replies, “Nah, we Indians have a thing about signed documents.” What was she referring to?
10. What are some historical references mentioned in the film?
11. Describe the relationship between Thomas and Victor.
12. Describe the life depicted on the reservation so far. What do you think are the writer’s and/or director’s feelings about the reservation?
Segment 2 0:30:00 – 1:01:00 Begins with: Victor’s painful flashback about his father’s leaving Ends with: Victor going into his father’s trailer
1. How is the importance of hair mentioned in this segment?
2. How is the reality of life off the reservation made clear for Victor and Thomas?