I Still Hide to Smoke (French: À mon âge je me cache encore pour fumer; lit.

The year is 1995, and the situation in the capital is tense, as laws are being passed limiting women's freedoms.

[2] Obermeyer first came up with the idea for the play and film in the early 1990s, following the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) massive win in Algeria's first-ever "free and democratic" elections.

According to the Hollywood Reporter's Jordan Mintzer, Smoke is a "fairly gripping account of women finding respite in each other’s company at a time, and in a place, where they have few possibilities to express themselves freely.

"[7] Amal Awad, reviewing the film for Australia's SBS, called it a "thrilling tale" and "It’s a reminder of why we watch stories".