Synopsis
Set in a Brooklyn cigar shop, 'Smoke' weaves together the lives of several characters, including a grieving writer and a street-smart shopkeeper, as they navigate love, loss, and redemption. Directed by Wayne Wang with a screenplay by Paul Auster, the film is a meditative and deeply humanist portrait of everyday New York life. Its gentle pacing and rich character dynamics make it a quiet masterpiece of 1990s independent cinema.
Did You Know?
- Based on a New York Times Christmas story by Paul Auster.
- Harvey Keitel learned to roll cigarettes for his role.
- Director Wayne Wang shot the film in just 28 days.
- The famous photo-counting scene was improvised during filming.
- A companion film, 'Blue in the Face,' was shot simultaneously.
Iconic Quotes
- You'll never get it if you don't slow down, my friend.
- It's just a bunch of smoke. But smoke isn't nothing.
- Everyone who comes in here, they're all part of my project.
- A man has to learn his limitations.
- Life is beautiful, but it can kill you at any moment.
