Martin's Coffee and Movies: *Coffee and Cigarettes*, a film that makes you crave coffee
Staff member Marchin here.
This is the 10th installment of my column focusing on coffee in movies, and this time it's from a film that makes you want to drink coffee more than any other...
I'm introducing Jim Jarmusch's anthology film, "Coffee and Cigarettes."
All 11 short films, shot in fragments, feature coffee (and sometimes tea) and cigarettes, creating a unique atmosphere.
Let's look at the coffee in this movie, where coffee is almost always present!
Here's the column about "The Grinch," the 9th installment in the series: Marchin's Coffee and Movies: "The Grinch" and Morning Coffee
While some lines and similar situations appear intermittently between stories, there are no direct, specific connections; each story is self-contained.
However, all 11 stories revolve around conversations that progress leisurely while drinking coffee (or tea) and smoking cigarettes. In fact, the film consists almost entirely of scenes of people talking while enjoying coffee and cigarettes.
There are no dramatic developments, and the stories are monotonous, yet all 11 short films possess a unique atmosphere that draws you in.
Here, let's look at a few brief synopses.
The two continue their conversation, "If I drink coffee before bed, I have incredibly fast dreams." "Do you know my mother?" But their conversation is somewhat disjointed.
Steven has a dentist appointment and has to go, but he hates dentists, so he doesn't want to.
Then Roberto says, "I have a lot of free time," so Steven suggests, "Then why don't you go in my place?"
"Really? I'd be happy to! Thank you, Steve." With that, Roberto leaves.
The twins decline, saying "No, thanks," but the waiter, being bored, engages them: "Are you from around here?" "Are you twins?"... As the twins deflect his questions, the waiter shares a special joke: "Elvis Presley, a local hero, actually had a twin brother, and by coincidence, the two met and switched places at some point, with the brother doing whatever he pleased. He started wearing flashy white suits and getting fat, so his manager poisoned him."
Upon hearing this, the twins chase the waiter away by talking about how "Elvis stole black music" and toast with their coffee.
Afterward, they start bickering again over something silly...
After a while, the waiter comes back, so the woman puts her hand over her coffee cup to ward him off.
The waiter leaves again, but soon returns.
As the woman once again holds her hand over her coffee cup, the waiter asks, "Are you perhaps Gloria?"
"No," the woman replies curtly, and the waiter leaves again, saying, "I thought you might be a friend of a friend..."
The waiter quickly returns again, this time offering food.
She curtly refuses him once more, and the waiter leaves, saying "Excuse me..."
Besides these, there are also stories featuring famous actors, singers, and hip-hoppers playing themselves, all of which are quietly progressing, slightly strange tales.
In any case, even though the characters don't seem to be drinking coffee particularly deliciously, for some reason, after watching it, you'll find yourself wanting to drink coffee.
The interesting thing about this film is that you can get various perspectives by focusing on the coffee that appears on screen.
When you watch this film, I highly recommend listening closely for these "coffee sounds." You'll have a不思議な体験 ("mysterious experience") where "pleasant sounds stimulate your brain and make you crave coffee."
By the way, the image that sticks with me the most is Bill Murray guzzling coffee straight from the server.
And it is with the expectation of experiencing such an atmosphere that one drinks coffee.
"Coffee & Cigarettes" is a film that makes you want to drink coffee, and it's a very relaxing movie to watch.
Please do watch it and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere, and then brew some coffee after you finish.
I'm sure your usual coffee will feel a little different!
Synopsis of "Coffee and Cigarettes"
"Coffee and Cigarettes" is a 2003 American film, an anthology composed of 11 short films directed by Jim Jarmusch.
While some lines and similar situations appear intermittently between stories, there are no direct, specific connections; each story is self-contained.
However, all 11 stories revolve around conversations that progress leisurely while drinking coffee (or tea) and smoking cigarettes. In fact, the film consists almost entirely of scenes of people talking while enjoying coffee and cigarettes.
There are no dramatic developments, and the stories are monotonous, yet all 11 short films possess a unique atmosphere that draws you in.
Here, let's look at a few brief synopses.
"Strange Meeting"
A man, Roberto, drinks coffee nervously, trembling. Another man, Steven, approaches him. Roberto greets Steven. "Nice to meet you, Steve." "It's Steven." "Have some coffee, Steve." "It's Steven." Saying that, the two drink coffee and smoke cigarettes.
The two continue their conversation, "If I drink coffee before bed, I have incredibly fast dreams." "Do you know my mother?" But their conversation is somewhat disjointed.
Steven has a dentist appointment and has to go, but he hates dentists, so he doesn't want to.
Then Roberto says, "I have a lot of free time," so Steven suggests, "Then why don't you go in my place?"
"Really? I'd be happy to! Thank you, Steve." With that, Roberto leaves.
"Twins"
A male and female twin are relaxing at a diner, enjoying coffee and cigarettes. They bicker about trivial things like whose idea it was to come to Memphis and not to smoke cheap cigarettes. A waiter comes over to ask if they want more coffee.
The twins decline, saying "No, thanks," but the waiter, being bored, engages them: "Are you from around here?" "Are you twins?"... As the twins deflect his questions, the waiter shares a special joke: "Elvis Presley, a local hero, actually had a twin brother, and by coincidence, the two met and switched places at some point, with the brother doing whatever he pleased. He started wearing flashy white suits and getting fat, so his manager poisoned him."
Upon hearing this, the twins chase the waiter away by talking about how "Elvis stole black music" and toast with their coffee.
Afterward, they start bickering again over something silly...
"Renée"
A woman sits alone in a cafe, drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette, and reading a magazine. A waiter approaches to refill her cup, pouring more coffee. The woman reprimands the waiter, saying, "It was just the right color and temperature, so it wasn't necessary."
After a while, the waiter comes back, so the woman puts her hand over her coffee cup to ward him off.
The waiter leaves again, but soon returns.
As the woman once again holds her hand over her coffee cup, the waiter asks, "Are you perhaps Gloria?"
"No," the woman replies curtly, and the waiter leaves again, saying, "I thought you might be a friend of a friend..."
The waiter quickly returns again, this time offering food.
She curtly refuses him once more, and the waiter leaves, saying "Excuse me..."
Besides these, there are also stories featuring famous actors, singers, and hip-hoppers playing themselves, all of which are quietly progressing, slightly strange tales.
In any case, even though the characters don't seem to be drinking coffee particularly deliciously, for some reason, after watching it, you'll find yourself wanting to drink coffee.
Coffee in "Coffee & Cigarettes"
There seem to be several elements that create the unique atmosphere of "Coffee & Cigarettes." The black and white visuals, the noisy background music, the diverse interiors, the witty dialogue, and the subtle acting of the cast... various elements combine to create the specific ambiance of "Coffee & Cigarettes." Of course, coffee plays a very significant role in this film, appearing in almost every scene. For example...It acts as a catalyst for conversation.
It reveals character personalities.
It eases tension.
It creates unique pauses.
It fills gaps.
It emphasizes the contrast between characters.
And so on.
The interesting thing about this film is that you can get various perspectives by focusing on the coffee that appears on screen.
Why "Coffee & Cigarettes" makes you want to drink coffee
"Coffee & Cigarettes" is truly a coffee-terror movie that makes you want to drink coffee after watching it. Honestly, the coffee that appears in the film is typically not very delicious—it's often been sitting for a while or is cold. Yet, for some reason, that coffee looks delicious, and it makes you want to drink it. It possesses a special, almost magical, power. This time, I want to talk about that magic in "Coffee & Cigarettes." I'll share what I felt makes this film compel viewers to seek coffee.Various Coffee Sounds
In "Coffee & Cigarettes," there are many scenes that quietly depict the series of actions characters take to drink coffee. In these scenes, where there's no dialogue, just the act of drinking coffee, several faint sounds echo. The sound of coffee being poured into a cup, the sound of adding sugar or milk to coffee, the clinking of a spoon against the cup while stirring, the slurping sound of drinking coffee, and the sigh of relief after finishing it. These "coffee sounds" have the effect of naturally drawing our attention to the coffee, making us unconsciously focus on it. And before we know it, we, the viewers, start wanting to drink coffee ourselves.
When you watch this film, I highly recommend listening closely for these "coffee sounds." You'll have a不思議な体験 ("mysterious experience") where "pleasant sounds stimulate your brain and make you crave coffee."
Characters' Preferred Ways of Drinking
In "Coffee & Cigarettes," many characters appear, and you can see different ways of drinking coffee depending on the person. Black, with a little milk, with a lot of sugar, in a small demitasse cup, in a large mug, in a cheap paper cup... As characters are shown drinking coffee in ways that suit them, you find yourself thinking about how you would drink it, or how delicious that particular way looks, among other things. While your imagination runs wild with these images, you'll suddenly find yourself starting to brew coffee.
By the way, the image that sticks with me the most is Bill Murray guzzling coffee straight from the server.
The Atmosphere of Coffee
Throughout "Coffee & Cigarettes," there's a unique, surreal, and relaxed atmosphere that feels somewhat unrealistic and out of sync. To put it another way, it's like a condensed version of the relaxed atmosphere of sitting in a cafe, chatting slowly, and forgetting the passage of time. Many who watch this film will likely be captivated by this distinctive ambiance.
And it is with the expectation of experiencing such an atmosphere that one drinks coffee.
"Coffee & Cigarettes" is a film that makes you want to drink coffee, and it's a very relaxing movie to watch.
Please do watch it and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere, and then brew some coffee after you finish.
I'm sure your usual coffee will feel a little different!