The real tragedy...

Rating: 9/10 (28 April 2003)

The real tragedy is that this movie changes nothing. This is a monumental film about a subject that affects our daily life...but is it really going to make a difference? Not a chance. The tobacco companies sit back and laugh. The much-delayed revelation that cigarettes are bad for you has turned into a huge boon for manufacturers. They have built whole advertising campaigns, aimed solely at the teenage market, built around the fact that cigarettes are 'bad', and therefore teenagers want it. Then they simply reinforce the fact that cigarettes are addictive, and virtually impossible to quit. With that message in your head, the impression that you are going to fail before you even start, it is small wonder that only a small percentage of those who 'quit' can stay away from these things.
The government, of course, plays along, even taking handouts in the form of 'lawsuits' which they make token efforts to dispute, then settle out of court for assurances of protection from further lawsuits..a.k.a. bribe money. The only truly responsible thing to do is ban cigarettes altogether, but you and I both know that will not happen. Why? Because cigarette sales contribute millions to our economy, and, more importantly, billions to all of the major political parties. So the government makes sure everyone knows cigarettes are 'bad', and noone does anything about it.
And THAT is the real tragedy.