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.