Romance & Cigarettes (2005)

In the bustling heart of working-class New York, Nick and Kitty Murder share an ordinary life, tainted by extraordinary secrets. Nick, a dedicated ironworker, mends bridges by day while clandestinely crafting love poems to his fiery mistress, Tula, by night. Unearthed by Kitty, a gentle yet resolute dressmaker, his lyrical ode to Tula's allure becomes the unraveling thread of their marriage. As Kitty grapples with the sting of betrayal, she finds solace in the company of their three daughters, her cousin Bo, her spiritual guide, and her church community. They rally around her, aiding her quest to confront the elusive Tula and questioning if her choice of Nick over her first love was a misstep etched in time. Meanwhile, Nick seeks counsel from his comrade Angelo and a seasoned local police officer, receiving unsolicited wisdom from his no-nonsense mother. Despite the tumult, Tula, a blunt Northern English sex shop clerk, remains steadfast in her affection for Nick, cherishing the very aspects of him that his poetry celebrates. As they navigate the wreckage of their fractured bond, Nick and Kitty are tossed into an emotional exile. Like a modern-day Oedipus, Nick trudges through the consequences of his actions, yearning to mend the damage he's sown. Amidst their struggles, when words fail to encapsulate their sentiments, they find solace in song. Lip-syncing tunes embedded deep within their subconscious becomes their escape, their chance to dream, remember, and connect. Romance & Cigarettes is a gritty yet tender musical love story that explores the price and worth of relationships. It dives into the depths of life and death, revealing how even in the bleakest moments, a glimmer of hope can rekindle the most damaged bonds.

Romance & Cigarettes is a comedy movie featuring James Gandolfini.

Romance & Cigarettes is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Hoopla.

It is also possible to buy Romance & Cigarettes on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Vudu.