Smoking/Non-Smoking (2012)

Twelve Angry Men meets Silkwood in a suspenseful feature inspired by true stories, starring Lucie Arnaz (The Jazz Singer) and Elisabeth Moss (Girl Interrupted, Madmen). A young man ... See full summary »

Director:

Alyssa Rallo Bennett

Writers:

Alyssa Rallo Bennett, Gary O. Bennett

Stars:

Lucie Arnaz, Elisabeth Moss, Carlos Leon

Cast

Credited cast:
Lucie Arnaz	...	Eleanor Jordan
Elisabeth Moss	...	Diana Whelan
Carlos Leon	...	Adam Roen
Roger Robinson	...	Jeffries
Adam Ferrara	...	Cassidy
William Mitchell	...	Judge Oppenheimer
Tibor Feldman	...	Dr. Hurst
Zach Galligan	...	Anson
Angie Martinez	...	Diego
Jennifer McCabe	...	Ingrahm
Molly Culver	...	Farrell
Ryan Homchick	...	Jack Jordan Jr.
Jennifer Merrill	...	Angela
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Gildea	...	Courtroom Police Officer
Craig Keene	...	Court Officer

Storyline

Twelve Angry Men meets Silkwood in a suspenseful feature inspired by true stories, starring Lucie Arnaz (The Jazz Singer) and Elisabeth Moss (Girl Interrupted, Madmen). A young man testifies against his mother for killing the father with secondhand smoke. Inspired by documented cases, "Smoking Non Smoking" weaves together the jury's cinema verite style deliberation, provocative courtroom testimony, flashbacks and the family's intimate home movies. An ambitious Assistant District Attorney (Carlos Leon, "The Big Lebowski," "The Woodsman" ) prosecutes a wife and mother (Lucie Arnaz) for murder after her forty-seven year-old husband dies of lung cancer. Their twenty-four year-old son decides to testify against her. At first, this appears to be a ridiculous case, but one juror's doubts (Jennifer McCabe) and inspirations - a student of hers (Elisabeth Moss) force the jury into an intriguing, emotional and complicated choice regarding addiction, loyalty and individual responsibility.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

User Reviews

Smoking/Non-Smoking Wins

"Smoking / Non-Smoking," is a stunning drama with clear and resonant allusions to the film classic "12 Angry Men." Here we have angry jurors who carry into the case being deliberated elements of their own lives. As questions of guilt or innocence are argued—Who is responsible for this man's death of lung cancer, presumably by secondhand smoke?—we are drawn into larger and larger ones about responsibility. Stereotypes dissolve in the characterizations and complexities of the issues, which become an inextricable weaving of personal, social and political ones dramatically alive in the dialog.

There are adroit cuts between the jurors deliberations, the trial and the lives of all involved, along with rich manipulation of imagery. Excellently written, directed and acted, the jurors are strong, carefully etched characters. As in "12 Angry Men," exchanges between them move from jury room to the rest room and back. In one, we get keen-edged engagement; in the other, moments of off-hand conversation that reveal nuances of character. There is a sophisticated use of imagery by director Alyssa Bennett, with one apt and meaningful visual allusion to "12 Angry Men"—which I won't tell. "Smoking / Non-Smoking" is provocative and intelligent, side-steps moralizing and leaves us with essential, inescapable questions about responsibility for ourselves and each other.