You are here:

Smoking Causes Coughing

Smoking Causes Coughing

Representation Score

5.0/10

Fair

2022

Not Rated

Director

Quentin Dupieux

Runtime

77 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Quentin Dupieux’s film is a surrealist exercise that prioritizes the deconstruction of logic over the representation of identity. It succeeds in disrupting conventional cinematic expectations through absurdity, yet it remains largely indifferent to social frameworks. The work avoids reinforcing traditional hierarchies by detaching character motivations from social roles. However, this detachment means the film rarely engages with the complexities of diverse social identities. Ultimately, the film is more interested in the absurdity of existence than in meaningful social commentary. It challenges the standard cinematic experience without providing a platform for specific underrepresented groups.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Smoking Causes Coughing have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not prominently feature LGBTQ+ characters or explicitly explore non-straight identities. While it avoids typical romantic clichés, it does not actively promote queer visibility.

How does Smoking Causes Coughing portray gender?

Fair

Characters primarily serve as vessels for surreal concepts rather than social actors. A female character plays a significant role by catalyzing the protagonist's existential crisis.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Smoking Causes Coughing?

Limited

The cast appears relatively homogeneous within a contemporary urban setting. There is no evidence of diverse ethnic representation or the use of metaphors to explore racial dynamics.

How does Smoking Causes Coughing represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative prioritizes absurdist relativism and deconstructs objective truth. It views traditional social structures as arbitrary but avoids explicit anti-institutional or anti-capitalist critiques.

Does Smoking Causes Coughing include disability representation?

Limited

A persistent cough serves as a central physical ailment, though it is treated as a comedic or metaphysical device. The film avoids moralizing the condition but lacks depth.

Present on Screen

  • Disrupts traditional storytelling and social norms through surrealist absurdity.
  • Avoids reinforcing assumptions that everyone is straight or cisgender by rejecting traditional romantic clichés.
  • Avoids 'inspiration porn' by refusing to center physical ailments on moral lessons.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks diverse ethnic representation and color-blind casting within the narrative.
  • Fails to provide meaningful depth or control to the experience of physical dysfunction.
  • Does not utilize its platform to advance specific progressive social frameworks.

Official Synopsis

After a devastating battle against a diabolical turtle, a team of five avengers — known as the "Tobacco Force" — is sent on a mandatory retreat to strengthen their decaying group cohesion, where they share scary stories the film depicts. Their storytelling sojourn goes wonderfully well until Lézardin, Emperor of Evil, decides to annihilate planet Earth.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.