Agent of Happiness

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1:42

Agent of Happiness

2024

1h 34m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

95%

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22 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

How is happiness measured? Can satisfaction with one's life be rated on a scale from one to ten? The Kingdom of Bhutan's famous -- and highly exoticized -- government policy measuring its nation's Gross National Happiness operates on the idea that the basic tenets of fulfillment can and should be quantified when calculating their nation's development. Happiness Agent Amber Gurung embarks throughout the Himalayan mountains to survey the contentment of citizens from different households and lifestyles. While Amber dutifully administers this census, he too is forced to confront his own struggles with fulfillment, and question what makes him happy. A "quiet, gently absorbing documentary" (The Guardian) AGENT OF HAPPINESS is a holistic exploration of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index, using "meaningful visual contrast to scrutinize Bhutan's narrative about itself," (Variety). Filmmakers Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó carefully craft a visually stunning, tender narrative around the age-old quest to find the purpose of life.

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Leigh Singer

Sight & Sound

Dec 22

What gradually emerges, then, is a fascinating way of considering happiness. For almost everyone here, it’s a present-tense assessment.

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

12/05/2024

It's gorgeously shot... and very gently absorbing.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

07/15/2024

4/5

A slow-burning portrait that’s infused with warmth.

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Rose Ho

The Asian Cut

07/24/2025

3.5/5

The universality of the human experience is shown.

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

06/14/2025

The film offers a peak not only into the daily lives of ordinary Bhutanese people, but also a glimpse at the desires, dreams, sometimes even their unhappiness, too.

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

01/23/2025

Ironically, some individuals who adamantly pursue "happiness" find it an elusive achievement. A more successful approach to this life-affirming state is illuminated in directors Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó's documentary "Agent of Happiness."

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Emma D

@RT81828316 08/07/2024

Quietly absorbing documentary about two government employees whose job it is to quantify people’s happiness. Left me with much food for thought.

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Arun Bhattarai

Director

Dorottya Zurbó

Director

Amber Kumar Gurung

Self

Noémi Veronika Szakonyi

Producer

Máté Artur Vincze

Producer

Dawn Bonder

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

How is happiness measured? Can satisfaction with one's life be rated on a scale from one to ten? The Kingdom of Bhutan's famous -- and highly exoticized -- government policy measuring its nation's Gross National Happiness operates on the idea that the basic tenets of fulfillment can and should be quantified when calculating their nation's development. Happiness Agent Amber Gurung embarks throughout the Himalayan mountains to survey the contentment of citizens from different households and lifestyles. While Amber dutifully administers this census, he too is forced to confront his own struggles with fulfillment, and question what makes him happy. A "quiet, gently absorbing documentary" (The Guardian) AGENT OF HAPPINESS is a holistic exploration of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index, using "meaningful visual contrast to scrutinize Bhutan's narrative about itself," (Variety). Filmmakers Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó carefully craft a visually stunning, tender narrative around the age-old quest to find the purpose of life.

Director: Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó
Producer: Noémi Veronika Szakonyi, Máté Artur Vincze, Arun Bhattarai
Distributor: Film Movement
Production Co: Match Frame Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Dzongkha
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.8M
Runtime: 1h 34m

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