If you watched Cigarette Girl on Netflix and found yourself crying in a way you rarely do during movies, you’re not alone. There’s a powerful reason this story stays with you long after the last scene. What might seem like a quiet romance at first soon reveals itself to be something much deeper, a story shaped not just by love, but by memory, identity, and the weight of time.
Released on Netflix in November 2023, Cigarette Girl is an Indonesian period drama series adapted from the acclaimed novel by Ratih Kumala. It spans five beautifully crafted episodes that weave together two time periods: the 1960s, where a young woman defies expectations, and the early 2000s, where her legacy echoes through the life of another. This isn’t a typical love story; it’s a tapestry of intertwined lives, choices, and the enduring power of connection.
Produced by BASE Entertainment with showrunners Shanty Harmayn and Tanya Yuson, and directed by acclaimed filmmakers Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, the series boasts a stellar ensemble cast headed by Dian Sastrowardoyo and Ario Bayu, alongside Putri Marino and Arya Saloka. The production itself is remarkable, with painstaking attention to period detail; more than 100 sets across 20 locations were built to breathe life into the world of clove cigarettes and the social landscape of 1960s Indonesia.
What makes Cigarette Girl stand out isn’t flashy plot twists or dramatic spectacle, but its human intimacy and emotional honesty. The romance between the passionate Dasiyah and Soeraja is rooted in real, lived experience, a blend of hope, pain, and the simple truth that love often comes with complexity. As the narrative shifts between past and present, the series elegantly shows how love ripples through time, shaping families and futures in ways the characters themselves only begin to understand years later.
By setting this love story against the backdrop of Indonesia’s tobacco industry and its cultural significance, the series doesn’t just tell a romance, it invites viewers into a world rich with nuance and history. Small details, like quiet looks, unspoken regrets, and the soundscape of an era gone by, build emotional resonance so powerful that even the most stoic viewer can find themselves moved. For movie lovers who rarely cry at films but still crave stories that feel lived, layered, and unforgettable, Cigarette Girl is truly worth watching on Netflix. It’s a reminder that some of the most poignant stories aren’t the loudest ones — and that sometimes the quietest moments leave the deepest mark.
Watch it on Netflix, it’s a journey worth taking.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
