Smoke (film)

Smoke is a 1995 independent film directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. It stars Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Stockard Channing, and Forest Whitaker, among others. The screenplay was written by Auster, based on his own short story "The Christmas Auggie Wren Story," which was originally published in The New York Times in 1990.

The film explores the interconnected lives of several characters centered around Auggie Wren's Brooklyn cigar store. Auggie, played by Keitel, is a philosophical and observant shopkeeper who forms the narrative hub. William Hurt plays Paul Benjamin, a writer struggling with grief after the death of his wife. The film examines themes of storytelling, memory, chance encounters, and the importance of everyday moments.

Smoke was generally well-received by critics for its character-driven plot, strong performances, and insightful exploration of human connection. A sequel, Blue in the Face, also directed by Wang and Auster and featuring many of the same actors, was released shortly after Smoke.