Blue Smoke

‘Blue Smoke’ follows a rest-home caretaker, Joe, who is mistaken by an elderly resident, Beryl, for her for her lounge-singing ex-husband. Joe plays his doppelgänger in the hopes of swindling her, until he realises she’s broke and dying. When she’s finally taken into palliative care, he finishes off the story of his doppelgänger’s departure to comfort Beryl, and sings her ‘their’ song: NZ classic, Blue Smoke.

Directed by Ivan Barge, Blue Smoke leans on a strong ensemble — Dahnu Graham, Ngapuhi-Nui-Tonu, Lisa Harrow — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2021.