Romance & Cigarettes
Dir: John Turturro USA 2005 105 minutes 16
Set in
contemporary America, Romance & Cigarettes is a modern day musical, a
dark and passionate comedy which tells the story of one man's journey into
infidelity and redemption. It stars James Gandolfini as our hero Nick Murder and
revolves around the repercussions of his adultery and doomed fascination with
the flame haired seductress Tula (Kate Winslet). For Kitty (Susan Sarandon),
Nick's long suffering wife, his treachery is the final straw. With faith in her
husband shattered she surprises even herself with the ferocity of her anger as
she struggles to cope with his betrayal. It is only through a tragic twist of
fate that Nick finally understands the extent of the pain he has inflicted on
his family. With time running out he discovers the essential value of Kitty's
love and respect.
In Romance & Cigarettes Turturro has crafted a gritty, exhilarating and
intense script. He describes the film as a savage musical. "When the characters
can no longer express themselves in words, they break into song, lip-synching
the tunes that are lodged in their subconscious. It is their way to escape the
reality of their world: to dream, to remember, to connect to another human
being" says Turturro. The film combines sharp snappy dialogue worthy of David
Mamet at his most brilliant with the visual flare and exquisite originality of
the Coen Brothers.
Employing a fabulously eclectic mix of contemporary and classic songs, and
featuring such diverse artists as James Brown, Nick Cave and Bruce Springsteen,
Romance & Cigarettes is a unique tale of sex and mortality that will
mesmerise audiences.