By Roger White

Special matinee celebrates 20th anniversary of Smoke Signals

Mar 21, 2018 | 2:00 PM

An independent film released in 1998 will once again hit the big screen in North Battleford as the Capitol Theatre hosts a special matinee of Smoke Signals this Saturday afternoon..

The film starring Adam Beach, Evan Adams and Tantoo Cardinal tells the story of a complicated father-son relationship with humour and drama.

Capitol Theatre manager Ursula Swindler said the significance of the film is not just the storyline but how the film was produced.

“I believe at the time this was the first all-Indigenous movie ever made,” Swindler said. “All the actors, producers, the director, screenwriter and technicians were all First Nation and with our strong Indigenous population I know it was a big hit around here.”

According to Swindler, the fact that 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of Smoke Signals made it even more special to host the matinee.

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“When I learned that this was the anniversary of the movie and I really thought it would be great to bring the show back to the big screen for those people who love the movie or those who have never seen it before,” Swindler said.

The film is based on the Sherman Alxie short story This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona from his book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven released in 1993.

Swindler added the film is a departure from traditional from featuring Indigenous people and to her that’s what makes the film appealing to everyone.

“This is not the traditional historical piece or anything like Dances With Wolves,” she added. “It depicts Indigenous people in real life situations and based in today’s society.”

Smoke Signals won several awards and accolades and including receiving an 86 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 29 reviews.   

The special encore performance of Smoke Signals will play Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter