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Smoke is a 1995 independent film that is set in Brooklyn, New York. It is a drama that explores the lives of different people who are connected through the Brooklyn Cigar store. The film is directed by Wayne Wang and written by Paul Auster. The main character in the film is Auggie Wren (Harvey Keitel), who owns a smoke shop in Brooklyn. The store is located on the corner of Third Street and Seventh Avenue, and it is a gathering place for a diverse range of people. The film starts with Auggie telling the story of how he won a bet with his friend Paul Benjamin (William Hurt), a novelist who is mourning the loss of his wife and struggling to write again. Auggie’s story involves taking a picture of the same location every morning for more than 20 years.

Paul is intrigued by Auggie’s story and is inspired to write a new novel based on the concept. This leads to a series of events that bring the characters together and reveal their hidden secrets and intricate relationships. Paul and Auggie become unlikely friends and talk about their lives, while Auggie becomes a mentor to Paul. Concurrently, there is a subplot involving a young African-American boy named Rashid (Harold Perrineau Jr.) who is trying to steal from Auggie’s store.

Another significant character in the film is Cyrus Cole (played by Forrest Whitaker), who is a regular customer at Auggie's store. Cyrus is a jazz musician who dreams of recording an album, but he is still in pursuit of his big break. His relationship with his daughter is strained, and he is trying to cope with his past mistakes.

The cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito, as Thomas, a struggling actor and bookshop owner, Stockard Channing, as the author of a local neighborhood newspaper, and Ashley Judd, as a woman with a mysterious connection to Paul.

Smoke is a slow-paced, character-driven film that focuses on the human connections and emotions that tie people together. The film features a non-linear narrative structure that gradually reveals the interconnectivity of the various characters. It also explores the themes of memory, storytelling, and the cyclical nature of life.

The film is set in the 1990s, which is reflected in the musical soundtrack that features jazz music, a mix of old and new songs, and a collection of instrumental tracks composed by the late great Tom Waits. The cinematography is beautiful and captures the essence of Brooklyn, with its beautiful brownstones, graffiti-lined subway cars, and bustling streets.

Smoke received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It was praised for its strong performances, particularly by Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, and Giancarlo Esposito. The film’s screenplay was also praised for its depth and richness of character.

Overall, Smoke is a poignant, introspective film that provokes thought and reflection on the interconnectedness of people's lives. It is a timeless film that has remained relevant throughout the years, and its themes of human connection, loss, and redemption resonate to this day.

Smoke is a 1995 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 70.