Smoke by Wayne Wang - Movie Review Example

“Smoke” “You know how it is. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. Time creeps in its petty pace” (Auster, n.p.). These words that are proclaimed by Auggie Wren, tobacco shop owner. They stay the truth of our changeable being, and investigate the fluidity of life which we cannot avoid. “Smoke” is an incredible example of film about philosophy of life and “the mysteries of chance” (Howe, n.p.). That film represents destiny, circumstances and hope. Moreover, we may observe usual people with different hurdles, but the veracity of life in its entire capacity is unavoidable in this picture. The film directed by Wayne Wang together with Paul Auster’s screenplay deserves the highest compliments (Howe, n.p.). Their collaboration and efficiency create a fascinating picture with a philosophical implication that does not leave any audience indifferent. The movie recounts five different life stories that are connected together. People who know each other all their life and random strangers together with unexpected events interlace in this film. “Smoke” integrates the notion of fate and inconsistency of life. Each story concentrates on somebody’s lifeline, and underpins some essential problems for this or that person. All characters are related together in some perspectives. Paul Benjamin is novelist, interesting and creative personality, but with a dramatic story. His pregnant wife has been killed in the street shootout, and he is not able to accept that fact. Paul’s life has converted in the form of suffering since that appalling day. Rashid remains to be inexperienced and lonely teenager who searches for his father. Still, he has stolen a big amount of money in dangerous mobsters, and they have an intention to kill this fellow, and get the money back. Auggie Wren is the owner of the Brooklyn Cigar Co. His shop composes all his life and he is happy there. Still, this man has his own secrets, hurdles and even special Christmas story. All events deploy under this three characters. We may add Auggie’s daughter story. This girl is pregnant and does not know her father. She use drugs and leads bacchanal way of life without recognizing outcomes. Auggie does not know about her birth, and her mother even does not sure who is her real father. Also, the story of man who has thought that Rashid is his son, and who reveals deceived by this young boy. Each story detects the complex hurdle of someone’s life, and evaluates the difficulty of these life situations. Still, the matter is that all characters deal with their problems and try to survive in this life routine. The idea of overcoming asperities and acceptance of hard facts is demonstrated in the movie. This picture represents different people with various past and certain problems. That fact stays the idea of diversity of human existence. Everyone is a unique personality, but the life circumstances mix people’s lives in sundry cocktails with unexpected consequences. That is the principle of humanity and world setting that is an inherent for our world. The moment when young man saves Paul’s life and then Paul has helped him with flat is a good confirmation of this rule of nature. The lives weave in a prodigious web that we are unable to predict. The fleetness of life is related to the entire picture, but Auggie’s Christmas story and unusual hobby successfully underpins this idea. The matter is that this man makes a photo of one place every day for four thousands days. That is the corner of the street near his house. That is more, every day Auggie implements this affair in the same time. He catches the moment every day, and this instant is considered to be essential and compulsory for this person. His collection of photos remains to be strange and unnecessary for his friend Paul. He has not been able to see the difference in this photos, and mulls over on the question why Auggie collects these pictures. “I can’t get it” – says Paul. “Youll never get it if you dont slow it down, my friend” – responds Auggie (Auster, n.p.). Despite the fact that each picture has made in the persist time, they show “subtle variety—in the people passing in front of the lens, the weather conditions, lighting differences, seasonal hues, and so forth” (Howe, n.p.). Paul sees a repetition in these photos, while Auggie conceives them as a chronicle of his fugitive life. As for the Christmas story we may observe it at the end of the film. This remains to be the event that induces Auggie to engage in such strange but interesting hobby. He has stolen the camera in the house of old lady that accidentally has thought that he is her grandson. One more coincidence is represented in this film that seems essential and significant for understanding the movie. What we can add is the theme of money. Five thousand dollars spins around the different heroes without finding their place. This cash moves from one character to another with any benefits to that person who owns them. Producer probably intends to underlie the negligibility and triviality of materialistic world to the entire nature of humanity, and emphasize the moral side of human being. “Smoke” represents philosophical and optimistic point of view in the world and people in it. This film suggests the lifelines of a few people, representing the perpetual verities through them. Elements of film thinking provide a helping hand to the directors to create an appropriate atmosphere and mood. The film is made in calm and light colors that determine the confident atmosphere, and concentrate audience on personalities that are involved in the movie. The image of smoke inevitably presents in the picture. Almost all characters are smoking. Cigarette is the thing that always can be fined in their pockets. Cigarette smoke appears in almost every scene that contributes opacity into the settlement and people’s lives. In addition, cigarettes reveal as the object that helps people to relax and forget their hurdles. The ideas of the film are reinforced by the sound accompaniment. That helps to create required atmosphere, and underlie the specialty of essential moments in the film. All soundtracks logically and melodiously comprise the picture. We should pay attention to the last moments of the film, when the Auggie’s Christmas story has depicted with the pleasant music. That creates the positive implication and pleasant aftermath from the film. The focus of the film directs on the foreground scenes that reveal the main events of the stories. If the director intends to pay attention on details, the camerawork operates under each item. As for the speed of the film, we may argue that it is rather natural without leaps of the motion. The Christmas story can be an exception as it is made with the faster speed. “Smoke” is divided into five stories; each section is named by its main character and represents particular the problem of him/her. What is essential, we have three main heroes that are in the center of the story, and tobacco shop that remains to be the main setting of the film. Transitions between scenes are logically filmed and professionally made. The narrative is considered to be straightforward and clear to the audience. All events are depicted in realistic and certain manner. Thematic concept of the film reveals special and eternal topics that are neglected in the modern society. We are always busy with a big number of affairs and have no time to meditate on our being, small but momentous changes, occasional people and our own subsistence. “Smoke” gives us a chance to concentrate attention on what we are, and why we are here. The time stays, we are gone, and it is inevitable rule of our nature. Our task is to live no matter what and appreciate every moment of our fleeting life. Reference List: Auster, Paul. “Smoke”. Script." 1995. Web. Howe, Desson. “Smoke”. The Washington Post June 16, 1995. Web. Read More