Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) is a compilation of short films and a feature-length anthology by renowned director Jim Jarmusch. Throughout the various segments, black and white tiles are consistently used as a visual element. This artistic choice reflects the underlying theme of opposing personalities, as each vignette portrays two individuals who have conflicting views but still maintain a cordial atmosphere while seated at a table together.

Strange to Meet You. In the 1986 short film Coffee and Cigarettes, Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright engage in a conversation centered around their shared love for coffee and cigarettes. During their chat, Steven shares his unique ideas for coffee consumption, including freezing it into ‘caffeine Popsicles’ for children. He also reveals his preference for drinking coffee before bed to enhance his dreaming experience, comparing it to the speed of an Indy 500 camera. While Roberto does not comprehend Steven’s concepts, he is thoroughly amused by his musings.

Twins. Initially known as Coffee and Cigarettes II, this chapter of the 1989 production Coffee and Cigarettes showcases Joie Lee and Cinqué Lee portraying the central twin characters, accompanied by Steve Buscemi in the role of bar owner Danny. In this segment, Danny shares his belief about Elvis Presley’s malevolent doppelganger while also recounting the widespread rumor that the famous singer made discriminatory remarks about African Americans during an interview with a magazine.

Somewhere in California. Initially released as Coffee and Cigarettes – Somewhere in California in 1993, this short film received the prestigious Short Film Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The piece features musicians Iggy Pop and Tom Waits indulging in cigarettes to commemorate their decision to quit smoking, as well as sipping on coffee and engaging in slightly uncomfortable dialogue. Throughout the segment, both artists note that the other’s music is absent from the jukebox, although Iggy Pop’s tunes can be heard in a later segment of the film.

Those Things’ll Kill Ya. While enjoying their coffee, Joseph Rigano and Vinny Vella discuss the risks of smoking. Meanwhile, Vinny Vella Jr. quietly joins them, apparently requesting money from his father in exchange for affection that he does not receive willingly.

Renée. Renée French, portrayed by herself, enjoys her coffee as she peruses a gun magazine. The waiter, E.J. Rodríguez, is eager to please and approaches her with a fresh cup of coffee. However, Renée assures him that her current cup is perfect in color and temperature. Despite the hesitation in his subsequent attempts to engage her in conversation, it is clear that the waiter is determined to strike up a conversation with her.

No Problem. Alex Descas and Isaach De Bankolé are two buddies who catch up over coffee and cigarettes. Alex claims he has no issues, despite Isaach’s persistent inquiries. Eventually, Alex pulls out a pair of dice and rolls three consecutive doubles. While some might see this as a red flag for gambling addiction, Alex seems unfazed by it. Nevertheless, he doesn’t roll the dice in front of his friend.

Cousins. Cate Blanchett portrays both herself and a fictional, non-famous cousin named Shelly. They meet for coffee in the hotel lounge, where Shelly is informed by their waiter that smoking is not allowed (after Cate has left). During their conversation, Shelly shares about her boyfriend Lee, who is in a hard industrial band that Cate compares to Iggy’s music style. Cate mentions her interest in meeting ‘Lou’ in the future. However, throughout their interaction, Shelly’s constant envious comments about Cate’s life and demeanor make her feel uneasy and awkward.

Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil. The segment features Jack and Meg White from The White Stripes enjoying coffee and cigarettes. They portray themselves, although the portrayal continues the band’s previous act of being siblings. Jack proudly displays his personally built Tesla coil and discusses the accomplishments of Nikola Tesla. Initially, Jack appears disappointed when Meg does not share his enthusiasm, but she eventually persuades him to demonstrate the Tesla coil. He introduces a famous quote by saying, ‘Nikola Tesla believed that the earth was a conductor of acoustical resonance’. Additionally, Cinqué Lee has a role as a waiter in this scene.

Cousins?. Over a cup of tea, British actors Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan chat. Coogan offers Molina a French cigarette, but Molina decides to save it for later. Despite being a big fan of Coogan’s work, Molina notices that Coogan seems uninterested in their meeting and does his best to conceal it. With excitement, Molina reveals he discovered they are distant relatives and suggests collaborating on a friendship or show business endeavor based on this connection. However, Coogan remains elusive until an admirer approaches him, causing him to momentarily perk up.

Delirium. The Wu-Tang Clan cousins and hip-hop stars, GZA and RZA, enjoy sipping on herbal tea sans caffeine while chatting with their waiter, Bill Murray. Their discussion centers around the potential risks of caffeine and nicotine. GZA shares how he used to consume a lot of coffee before bedtime, hoping for fast-paced dreams reminiscent of the camera shots at the Indy 500 – just like Steven Wright mentioned in the opening segment.

Champagne. During their coffee break, William Rice and Taylor Mead engage in a nostalgic chat, accompanied by Janet Baker’s powerful rendition of Mahler’s ‘Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen’. As they reminisce, William recalls Jack White’s statement about Nikola Tesla’s view of the earth as an instrument of sound resonance. This idea may offer insight into the recurring motifs present in seemingly disjointed moments.