Smoking
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Alain Resnais
Sabine Azema
Pierre Arditi
Alan Ayckbourn
Jean-pierre Bacri
Bernard Bats
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
This comedy, along with its companion feature "No Smoking" (France/1993), deals with the relationship between chance and human determination. Two actors portray various characters in a series of vignettes, each with dual outcomes. After recounting the first story in a straightforward manner, the film suddenly asks "what if?" and explores a parallel universe peopled by the same characters. "Smoking" emphasizes the tottering marriage of alcoholic school administrator Toby Teasdale and his insecure wife Celia; Celia's tentative relationship with jack-of-all-trades Lionel Hepplewick; and the transformation of punkette employee Sylvie Bell.
Director
Alain Resnais
Cast
Sabine Azema
Pierre Arditi
Crew
Alan Ayckbourn
Jean-pierre Bacri
Bernard Bats
Sylvette Baudrot
Renato Berta
Jean-pierre Besnard
Pierre-yves Bruneel
Jackie Budin
Daniel Deleforges
Anne Dutter
Georges Dutter
Agnfs Jaoui
Albert Jurgenson
Gerard Lamps
Anne Le Campion
John Pattison
Bruno Pesery
Marc Pinquier
Marc Pinquier
Jacques Quinternet
Jacques Quinternet
Pascal Ralite
Jackie Reynal
Jacques Saulnier
Anne Serrie
Michel Seydoux
Jean-paul Torraille
Dominique Touissant
Anne Varenne
Patrick Villain
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of five Cesar Awards, including best picture, best director, best actor (Pierre Arditi), best screenplay and best art direction.
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1996
Released in United States 1994
Released in United States February 1994
Released in United States April 27, 1995
Shown at Seattle International Film Festival May 20 - June 12, 1994.
Shown at Taormina Film Festival July 27 - August 2, 1994.
Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (in competition) February 10-21, 1994.
Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (opening night) April 27, 1995.
Based on Alan Ayckbourn's octet of plays "Intimate Exchanges" which premiered in Scarborough, England in 1982 and were first staged in London's West End in 1984. The plays were subsequently presented at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA in 1993.
For its European theatrical release, director Edouard Molinaro shot a trailer with stars Sabine Azema and Pierre Arditi that features the two actors walking to a theater in Paris arguing over whether to see "Smoking" or "No Smoking."
Alain Resnais received a Silver Bear for this film and its companion piece, "No Smoking" (France/1993), at the 1994 Berlin International Film Festival.
Completed shooting February 22, 1993.
Began shooting October 5, 1992.
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1996
Released in United States 1994 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival May 20 - June 12, 1994.)
Released in United States April 27, 1995 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (opening night) April 27, 1995.)
Released in United States February 1994 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (in competition) February 10-21, 1994.)
Released in United States 1994 (Shown at Taormina Film Festival July 27 - August 2, 1994.)
