Ever​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​quit​ ​smoking?​ ​But​ ​then​ ​been​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​resist​ ​returning​ ​to​ ​that​ ​toxic​ ​(but​ ​tempting)​ ​relationship again?​ ​And​ ​again.​ ​And​ ​again.​ ​

A​ ​new​ ​short​ ​film,​ ​narrated​ ​by​ ​Charlotte​ ​Ritchie​ ​of​ ​​Fresh​ ​Meat​ ​​and​​ ​Call​ ​The​ ​Midwife​ ​​fame,​ ​captures​ ​​just​ ​​how​ ​hard it​ ​is​ ​for​ ​smokers​ ​to​ ​stub​ ​out​ ​love’s​ ​flame.

In​ ​a​ ​comic​ ​monologue,​ ​a​ ​woman​ ​reminisces​ ​about​ ​her​ ​tortured​ ​affair​ ​with​ ​cigarettes:​ ​from​ ​the​ ​head-spinning​ ​first rush​ ​of​ ​infatuation,​ ​to​ ​years​ ​in​ ​a​ ​committed​ ​relationship,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​her​ ​old​ ​flame​ ​is​ ​there​ ​looking​ ​​damn​ ​fine​​ ​at every​ ​turn​ ​when​ ​she’s​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​forget​ ​him.​ ​A​ ​chance​ ​encounter​ ​at​ ​a​ ​bus​ ​stop​ ​drags​ ​her​ ​into​ ​a​ ​struggle​ ​with​ ​her on-again-off-again​ ​relationship​ ​that’s​ ​so​ ​bad,​ ​but​ ​so​ ​good…​ ​and​ ​her​ ​attempts​ ​to​ ​quit​ ​for​ ​​The​ ​Last​ ​Time.
Director​ ​Christine​ ​Hooper’s​ ​stylised​ ​and​ ​colourful​ ​Wes​ ​Anderson-esque​ ​aesthetic​ ​matches​ ​the​ ​comedic​ ​tone,​ ​but also​ ​cleverly​ ​plays​ ​with​ ​the​ ​cruel​ ​irony​ ​of​ ​how​ ​hard​ ​it​ ​is​ ​to​ ​shake​ ​the​ ​glossy,​ ​romantic​ ​allure​ ​of​ ​those​​ ​​toxic tar-sticks.​ ​As​ ​such,​ ​it’s​ ​relatable​ ​contrast​ ​to​ ​the​ ​grey,​ ​humourless​ ​piety​ ​of​ ​most​ ​anti-smoking​ ​material.​ ​But whatever​ ​your​ ​cravings,​ ​the​ ​film​ ​rings​ ​true​ ​in​ ​depicting​ ​how​ ​it’s​ ​rarely​ ​as​ ​simple​ ​as​ ​dumping​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​habit​ ​and​ ​never looking​ ​back.​ ​This​ ​film​ ​provokes​ ​a​ ​wry​ ​laugh​ ​as​ ​we​ ​try​ ​–​ ​once​ ​again​ ​-​ ​not​ ​to​ ​let​ ​our​ ​good​ ​intentions​ ​go​ ​up​ ​in smoke.