Smoking Tigers

A family drama and coming-of-age story rolled into one, this is a film that gracefully acknowledges the complexities of relationships and the challenges of growing up with a touching authenticity.

Using outstanding imagery, this film softly lulls you into its world in a way that I’ve not seen done before.

This soulful coming of age drama takes a while to grab onto the hearts of the audience, but once it does, it won't let go. The characters will follow you for days.

It's a well-crafted, heartfelt take on a reliable formula.

Even when the film seems like it doesn’t accomplish anything right now, it delivers a considerable character study that will benefit a lot of viewers in the long term.

A tale that’s as gentle as it is harrowing, and one that debuting writer-director So Young Shelly Yo tells with quiet, poetic grace.

Capped off by Jun-ho Jeong’s tragic supporting turn as Hayoung’s well-meaning but all-too-human father (simply referred to as “Appa”), Smoking Tigers captures the beauty and pain of coming of age as a teenage child of divorce.

In its clear-eyed and naturalistic way, Smoking Tigers takes on a surprising fullness.

A tenderly-told story that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

With music that accentuates scenes and silent moments that signify ranges of emotions, Yo’s sharp direction makes Smoking Tigers familiar and a triumph.