Smoke Signals is a very moving film. It addresses a lot of things about the struggles of life and how difficult it is to overcome these struggles. At first, Victor came across as a mean guy that picked on others for no apparent reason. That's not quite the case, he has suffered a lot and that's caused him to be angry. Both of his parents were alcoholics when he was younger. Even though his mother decided to give it up, his father wasn't as willing. Not only did he continue to drink, he abandoned his family as well. Victor didn't know how to deal with this and instead of trying to seek help, he closed everyone off and let that resentment and hurt build up.
This shows just how difficult it is to deal with pain. When someone hurts us we tend to brush it off. Instead of dealing with the situation, we do what we can to ignore the problem. It's easier than actually facing what has happened. Victor does this and we can notice it very clearly throughout the film. Every time Thomas brings up his father he becomes uncomfortable. He feels rejection from his father. He feels that his father didn't want him because he wasn't a good enough reason to stick around. Victor lets this take ahold of him for ten years. This is a long time to be feeling so bitter. Instead of moving forward, he's preventing himself from healing.
In order for him to move on he has to forgive his father. We find out later on in the film that Victor's father regretted leaving his son. He wanted to go back, but he wasn't able to. Even if that wasn't the case it would have been better for Victor to rid himself of the resentment he felt. He was taking it out on his loved ones, including his mother, and he was also harming himself. We can see that overall the situation he faced wasn't ideal and was worsened by how he reacted.
Sarahi:
ReplyDeleteThe realization you gave me on the topic of the father son relationship was alarming of the importance and how often these are damaged, as well as trying to overcome this pain is very difficult!!
Alot of people find addictive behavior and just numb it, but it doesnt go away...Forgiveness is a transgression that we must all pledge to do to overcome pain and hurt throughout our lives!! Deciding to forgive a father is a traumatic rewarding experience that I have faced myself as a daughter...which is harder..who knows...mine was equally as difficult but yet provided more happiness to transpire in my life!!
Thank you for the thoughts and your reading
Daye
Hi Sarahi,
ReplyDeleteYour post has me wondering something; does Arnold do the right thing by leaving his family?
His leaving causes Victor pain and resentment, but would things have been worse for Victor had Arnold stayed? Would Arnold's alcoholism and guilt have caused greater pain than leaving did? What do you all think?
Thanks for giving me more to think about.
Take care,
Lauren
Hi Sarahi
ReplyDeleteI too thought that Smoke Signals was a very moving film in fact I am so glad that I was able to see it. I agree that it addressed many struggles but it also touch on a lot of stereotyping.
When Victor first came on the scene, I was not sure what to think my first thought that he was the popular kid because he was a jock with talent and because of that he had a big head and that is why he treaded Thomas so badly. Once we got further into the movie I then realized that something very tragic had happen in his life and he took it out on Thomas because of his own personal demons. Having two parents that are alcoholics is just a recipe for disaster and this movie depicts that very well. So many people lives were changed do to the ramification of the use of alcohol.
I felt sorry for Victor because he never knew the reason that his father acted the way he did and why until after his dad’s death. This poor kid grew up thinking that it was his doing at first then he one night after seeing his parent’s party all night and even witnessing some violence, he realized that the alcohol had something to do with his life feeling so out of control. It made me think about all the kids out there that live with ether a parent or both parents that are alcoholics.
Victor is the perfect example of what happens to a kid’s life when he holds in so much hurt and anger and gets no help. He begins to do very destructive things to not only himself but also others. I am so glad that victor was able to make peace with what happen in his life. In the end, it gave me hope for his future.
Sarahi,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned turning points and a couple parts of the movie came to mind. The first part is when Victor told Thomas "An Indian man is nothing without his hair and that brings us to Victor sitting in his fathers trailer where he proceeded to cut his hair of with his dads pocket knife. The reason he did this I believe is because he didn't feel like a man all those years that his father was gone or he didnt learn how act like a man he had to learn on his own. He felt like he wasn't important when he was abandoned. Thank you for your time.