MovieChat Forums > Smoke Signals (1998) Discussion > Just watched the movie

Just watched the movie

posted 10 years ago by munecito337
4 replies | jump to latest

Can't help but notice that Thomas had some sort of mental or social retardation. I don't see anything in the message boards discussing it. But I feel like there was def something wrong. I mean you see at the beginning that they threw him through a damn window. That's a hell of a lot of trauma for a baby and I'm surprised he didn't die. But it could also just be all the coddling and sheltering given to him by his grandma. Anyone else think the same?

[–] clocksnmirrors-932-761321 10 years ago

I wouldn't say retardation. I would say that he didn't edit his comments the way some people would. He spoke honestly, but not out of malice. He had a kind heart. I found him utterly charming and enjoyable.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6014) 3 years ago

this

[–] LaMelodyVita 10 years ago

I didn't think of him as mentally challenged, but his manner of speaking sounded strange- the way he inflected.

[–] MotherFxckerJones 10 years ago

He's not retarded or anything like that. And "His manor of speaking" is a thick Rez Indian Accent.
I'm Ojibwe in Minnesota. and A lot of people who live on the rez like Thomas have thick rez accents like that. But not me because I grew up off the rez.