Smoking Tigers (2023) follows Hayoung (Ji-young Yoo), a second generation Korean American who is navigating life and family issues in LA in the early 2000’s. Written and directed by So Young Shelly Yo, the film explores a wide range of topics in teen life from balancing school with a social life to dealing with challenging family dynamics at home.
The story covers one summer of Hayoung’s life, starting with her enrollment in a hagwon (Korean cram school). While studying and preparing for college applications, Hayoung also has to deal with hiding her family’s economic circumstances from her new, wealthier friends. The film also touches upon friendships and relationships, which at Hayoung’s age, are shown to be pretty shallow and fragile.
Her life at home is not without struggles of its own, often feeling a duty to help look after her younger sister, Ara (Erin Choi), while her separated parents both struggle to make ends meet and support the family. Hayoung has a complex relationship with her parents. Although her mother (Abin Andrews) gave up her dream to pay for Hayoung’s schooling, Hayoung resents her. On the other hand, her father (Jeong Jun-ho) is the one who left the family and is struggling to run a failing business, yet Hayoung idolizes him. The film examines the tension between Hayoung and her overbearing yet well-meaning parents who just want their children to work hard so they can succeed in the future. Regardless of the struggles in her life, Hayoung puts her family first and shows that they are who she cares about the most.
Although the film moves a bit slow at times, it tells its story well and explores multiple facets of the young Asian American experience. Each scene propels the story and gradually sheds more light on Hayoung’s family life, as well as her aspirations. The ending of the film may seem anticlimactic, but it’s fitting; Just like life just keeps moving, so does Hayoung. Although it may seem like not much has changed from the start of the movie, Hayoung has grown as a person and is ready to continue living her life.
