Film Close Up

Chris Wade takes a look at two cult classics from the 1990s, Smoke and Blue in the Face, made by writer Paul Auster and director Wayne Wang. Released during a golden era for American independent cinema, Smoke focuses on a Brooklyn cigar shop run by Auggie Wren (Harvey Keitel), and the various characters that revolve around it. Blue in the Face is the companion film to Smoke, a loose, free, often wild comedy, with star cameos and unforgettable ensemble sequences. Wade explores these two films, of which he has been a fan for 25 years, and delves into their making. The book also features an interview with Paul Auster himself, conducted by Wade in 2022.