SMOKING/NO SMOKING

1993 - France / Italy - 298 min. - Feature, Color

Director - Alain Resnais

Sound by Dolby

Produced by Alia Films / Arena Films / Caméra One / Canal Plus / CNC / Eurimages / France 2 Cinema / Procirep / Vega Film

Released by Pyramide

PLOT SYNOPSIS:

Since Smoking and No Smoking, though they are separate films, were conceived (and shown) in tandem, and since they are both based on a closely connected set of plays by the English dramatist Alan Ayckbourn, they are considered together here. When the two films were shown in France, viewers invariably reported preferring the second one they saw, whichever one that was. The original plays covered eight separate stories, which have been pared down to three each for these movies. At a certain point in the story of each movie, the three female characters (all played by Sabine Azema) and the three male characters (all played by Pierre Arditi) have their lives skilfully recapped in terms of "what might have happened" if they made or failed to make certain choices. For example, No Smoking focuses chiefly on the relationship between the mild-mannered Miles Coombes and his infinitely more aggressive and ambitious wife Rowena. Reviewers were overwhelmed by the amazing fact that not only did director Alain Resnais successfully carry off this complex premise twice, but that he succeeded in creating powerful entertainments each time. In fact, the two films have begun showing up on "must-see" lists all over the place. In 1993, competing together as one film, they won most of the major awards (Césars) of the French Academy of Cinema. - Clarke Fountain

CAST:

Sabine Azéma - Celia Teasdale/Sylvie Bell/Irene Pridworthy/Rowena Co

Pierre Arditi - Toby Teasdale/Miles Coombes/Lionel Hepplewick/Joe Hep

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Alain Resnais - Director

Alan Ayckbourn - Play Author

Jean-Pierre Bacri - Screenwriter

Agnes Jaoui - Screenwriter

Renato Berta - Cinematographer

John Pattison - Composer (Music Score)

Albert Jurgenson - Editor

Jacques Saulnier - Production Designer

Michel Seydoux - Associate Producer

AWARDS:

Best Actor (win) - Pierre Arditi - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

Best Director (win) - Alain Resnais - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

Best Film (win) - Alain Resnais - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

Best Original Screenplay (win) - Agnes Jaoui - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

Best Original Screenplay (win) - Jean-Pierre Bacri - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

Best Production Design (win) - Jacques Saulnier - 1993 French Academy of Cinema

SIMILAR MOVIES:

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972, Luis Buñuel)

L'Ironie du Sort (1974, Edouard Molinaro)

Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974, Jacques Rivette)

La Belle Captive (1983, Alain Robbe-Grillet)

Run Lola Run (1998, Tom Tykwer)

MOVIES WITH THE SAME PERSONNEL:

Same Old Song (1997, Alain Resnais)

Mélo (1986, Alain Resnais)

Cuisine et Dependances (1993, Philippe Muyl)

L'Amour à Mort (1984, Alain Resnais)

Un Air De Famille (1996, Cedric Klapisch)

Je t'aime, Je t'aime (1967, Alain Resnais)

Last Year at Marienbad (1961, Alain Resnais)

Stavisky (1974, Alain Resnais)