Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals (1998) is an American road dramedy you can watch online on iFILM. On the Coeur d'Alene reservation, two young men collide: prickly, tight-lipped Victor and motor-mouthed oddball Thomas, who hides behind oversize glasses and a story for every occasion.

One fire binds them. In 1976 Thomas's parents died in a blaze, and the boy was pulled out by Victor's father, Arnold, who then walked away from his own family and vanished for ten years. When word comes that Arnold has died in Arizona, Thomas offers to pay for the trip to collect his ashes, and the two set off together. Victor hauls his resentment along; Thomas brings his endless tales. That mismatch is the whole movie. Adam Beach and Evan Adams play it so the laughs and the grief land in the same breath.

Directed by Chris Eyre from short stories by Sherman Alexie, this was the first feature written, directed and produced by Native Americans to reach wide release. Its Sundance Audience Award was only the start of a lasting cult reputation. Stream Smoke Signals (1998) online on iFILM if you love quiet, witty films about forgiveness and fathers.