Holy Smoke strides into its story with a hypnotic blend of spirituality, desire, and psychological tug-of-war. Ruth Barron’s search for meaning in India feels like a spark that quickly catches fire, pulling her into the orbit of a charismatic guru who promises clarity amid life’s noise. But the moment she returns home, that newfound certainty becomes the battleground for a family terrified of losing her.
Enter PJ Waters—confident, seasoned, and convinced he can break Ruth free from what he sees as manipulation. Their confrontation in a remote desert hideaway becomes the film’s electric core. What begins as an intervention slowly twists into a charged duel of wills, where power shifts like desert wind and neither one is as in control as they pretend to be.
Kate Winslet delivers a performance full of heat and defiance, turning Ruth into a figure who’s both grounded in conviction and unafraid to push back. Harvey Keitel matches her intensity with a character who unravels the more he tries to dominate the situation. Their dynamic crackles with tension—emotional, spiritual, and undeniably sensual.
