Happy
Happy
NR | 11 February 2012 (USA)
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Happy is a 2011 feature documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Roko Belic. It explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries, weaving in the newest findings of positive psychology. Director Roko Belic was originally inspired to create the film after producer/director Tom Shadyac (Liar, Liar, Patch Adams, Bruce Almighty) showed him an article in the New York Times entitled "A New Measure of Well Being From a Happy Little Kingdom". The article ranks the United States as the 23rd happiest country in the world. Shadyac then suggested that Belic make a documentary about happiness. Belic spent several years interviewing over 20 people, ranging from leading happiness researchers to a rickshaw driver in Kolkatta, a family living in a "co-housing community" in Denmark, a woman who was run over by a truck, a Cajun fisherman, and more.

Reviews
Hellen

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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ThiefHott

Too much of everything

VeteranLight

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

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Pacionsbo

Absolutely Fantastic

cosmicaug

Generally good but I have to remove some stars for a couple of reasons (were it not for these, it might have deserved around 9 stars —though I wonder if I am being too generous at that).The first reason is the way it, effectively, holds up the nation of Bhutan as an example for the rest of the world to follow. While they do tangentially touch on things which might be seen to hint at a possible authoritarian streak in this parliamentary monarchy when they mention legally enforced manner of dress, language and architecture (presumably treating their citizens like school children who must be required to wear uniforms "for their own good"), they never follow through on them. In any case, letting anyone brag, unchallenged, about how this nation handles its social systems is simply inappropriate. This is a nation whose policies make Donald Trump seem like a flower child. This is a nation which ethnic cleansed itself of roughly one sixth of its population in the 1990s. I wonder if these expelled ethnic Lhotshampa count toward Bhutan's Gross National Happiness? When, to make a positive example of this nation, this documentary claims that this nation's government tasks itself with asking what it is that makes its people happy, we must wonder if ethnic cleansing (and enforced conformity) is meant to be part of the answer.While this does not mean that there can't be any positives in the politics of this country, it is not acceptable to sweep some very serious shortcomings under the rug (which no one would know about from watching this documentary).The second reason I must subtract some stars is their treatment of Mother Teresa's Kalighat Home for the Dying. While I have no reason to doubt anything relating to state of mind of the volunteer they talked to, one cannot ignore the fact that it is happening in a setting known for widely reported issues of willful negligence in the care of their patients (if not, at times, outright abuse). It is a setting created around a dogma, which was held by Mother Teresa, of suffering as virtue. It is not so much that suffering is seen as an inevitable state but that it is seen as a desirable one. Ignoring this context, promotes a faulty, popular mythology of Mother Teresa. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Mother_TeresaSee criticisms by Aroup Chatterjee, Christopher Hitchens and Susan Shields.

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JohnnyBeeGoode

Warning: The spoiler is in the title. This is my first IMDb Review and I will keep it brief, as those before me did a great job summarizing the nuts and bolts of the Film. I am not a movie fanatic (by any stretch), however, if you knew me, you would KNOW that I would probably not publish a film review; much less, on a film titled, "Happy". In my opinion, I am not "grumpy" but "Happy" really brought a smile to my face. Reason being, the film is 110% accurate; I cannot say that about much of anything these days but "pure", "fresh", and "authentic" (along with, the aforementioned, "accurate") ruminate in my head as brief descriptors. It is well worth the seventy-five (75) minute run time, guaranteed. In closing, this film is not what I expected it to be (I rated it a 10 out of 10) but much, much more. For this I am grateful (and happy). Enjoy!

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coonyp

This is a movie where the subject matter is far more important than the quality of the movie itself (which is good). Had I received messages like this when I was young, I am sure I would have made fewer mistakes.Young persons understand that happiness is a life goal but they are often confused among conflicting messages on how to get there. By illustrating those who have achieved happiness as well as those who have not, the movie could potentially be very useful in helping young people make responsible and fulfilling life choices. So hopefully this little movie will be recognized as a motivational tool for the young and used in our classrooms and in other venues where teens might be receptive to its message.

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Timothy Spear

Tom Shadyac, the director of the Nutty Professor read in a NY times article that although the US was one of the richest countries it was nowhere near the happiest and also noted from his own experience materially successful people he knew were often less happy than their gardeners. Intrigued he funded director Roko Belic to make this movie investigating what makes people happy. He goes to Denmark, Namibia, Scotland, China, Kenya, Brazil, Japan, Bhutan and India and interviews a bunch of people and the result is quite an interesting movie on how things play out. They start with a guy in India living in poverty in one of the worse slums but he's about as happy as the average American partly because there is a lot of community involvement. In Japan he meets the Okinawa islanders who generally have a cheery simple life and live to about 100 and also the family of a pressured salary man who dropped dead in his thirties from stress and overwork. It's interesting to see the contrasts and it may well give some inspiration for your own life.

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