John Turturro Brings ‘Romance & Cigarettes’ Back to the Big Screen — In Glorious 35mm

The Southampton Playhouse will host a special 20th anniversary screening of “Romance & Cigarettes,” the critically acclaimed musical dramedy written and directed by Emmy Award-winning actor, writer and director John Turturro. The screening will take place Thursday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m., and marks the venue’s first-ever 35mm presentation.

Following the screening, the cinema’s artistic director Eric Kohn will moderate a conversation with Turturro and Emmy-nominated actress Aida Turturro (John Turturro’s sister), who also stars in the film.

“I’m thrilled to have ‘Romance & Cigarettes’ return to the big screen the way it was meant to be seen,” said Turturro in a statement. “This film was a labor of love, exploring the imagination of the working class through the transporting power of music. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate its 20th anniversary than sharing it with an audience once again.”

“We are thrilled to welcome John Turturro to the Southampton Playhouse,” said Kohn. “‘Romance & Cigarettes’ redefined what a romance musical could be, and this screening not only celebrates the film’s legacy, but also honors John’s enduring artistic vision.”

Originally released in 2005, “Romance & Cigarettes” is a gritty, surreal musical love story centered on Nick (James Gandolfini), a New York ironworker who is torn between his devoted wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) and his fiery mistress Tula (Kate Winslet). When his double life unravels, Nick must face the consequences of his choices and fight to reunite his fractured family. The film blends realism and fantasy, as characters break into song using iconic tracks by artists including James Brown, Janis Joplin, Tom Jones and Bruce Springsteen.

In addition to Aida Turturro, the ensemble cast also includes Bobby Cannavale, Steve Buscemi, Amy Sedaris, Christopher Walken and Mary-Louise Parker. The film draws inspiration from Charles Bukowski and “The Honeymooners,” fusing drama, humor and music into a genre-defying experience.

Over his 35-year career, John Turturro has worked with legendary directors including Spike Lee (“Jungle Fever,” “He Got Game”), Martin Scorsese (“The Color of Money”), Robert Redford (“Quiz Show”), Robert De Niro (“The Good Shepherd”), Francesco Rosi (“La Tregua”) and Nanni Moretti (“Mia Madre”). He has also appeared in mainstream hits like “Mr. Deeds,” “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” and the Transformers franchise.

Turturro has been a frequent collaborator with the Coen brothers, earning the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for “Barton Fink,” and starring in “Miller’s Crossing,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “The Big Lebowski.” In 2020, he reprised his role as Jesus Quintana in “The Jesus Rolls,” which he also wrote and directed. He recently appeared in “The Batman” as Carmine Falcone and in Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door.” Upcoming projects include “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” directed by Noah Segan.

On television, Turturro has received multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for roles in “The Night Of,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and “The Plot Against America.” He won an Emmy for “Monk” and earned acclaim for portraying real-life figures such as Billy Martin (“The Bronx Is Burning”) and Howard Cosell (“Monday Night Mayhem”). In 2023, he starred as Mickey Sabbath in a stage adaptation of Philip Roth’s “Sabbath’s Theater.”

Turturro’s directorial debut, “Mac,” received the Camera d’Or at Cannes. His other films as writer-director include “Illuminata,” “Passione” and “Fading Gigolo.” He is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and the Yale School of Drama and earned early stage acclaim for his OBIE Award-winning performance in John Patrick Shanley’s “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.”

The Southampton Playhouse is located at 40 Jobs Lane, Southampton. For more information, visit southamptonplayhouse.com.