Smoking Tigers Explained

Smoking Tigers
Director:	So Young Shelly Yo
Starring:	Ji-young Yoo Jung Joon-ho
Runtime:	85 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English Korean^[1]

Smoking Tigers is a 2023 American drama film written and directed by So Young Shelly Yo and starring Ji-young Yoo and Jung Joon-ho.

Plot

A lonely 16-year old Korean American Hayoung tries to hide her problematic family and lower income background from her new wealthy friends.

Cast

• Ji-young Yoo as Hayoung
• Jung Joon-ho as Appa
• Abin Andrews as Umma
• Erin Choi as Ara
• Erin Yoo as Rose
• Phinehas Yoon as Joon Park

Release

The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 10, 2023.^[2]

Reception

The film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven reviews.^[3]

Jesse Hassenger of Paste gave the film a positive review and wrote, "In its clear-eyed and naturalistic way, Smoking Tigers takes on a surprising fullness."^[4]

Notes and References

1. Lewis. Hilary. 'Smoking Tigers' Filmmakers on Going From Untold Stories to Tribeca Competition: "We Wouldn't Have This Opportunity Otherwise". May 25, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. May 6, 2024.
2. Web site: Hajimirsadeghi. Ashley. Smoking Tigers Review: A Tenderhearted Look into Korean American Girlhood. June 11, 2023. MovieWeb. May 6, 2024.
3. Web site: Smoking Tigers. Rotten Tomatoes. May 6, 2024.
4. Hassenger. Jesse. The Intimate, Carefully Composed Coming-of-Age Story Smoking Tigers Is a Tribeca 2023 Highlight. June 23, 2023. Paste. May 6, 2024.