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The Joy of Life

Play trailer Poster for The Joy of Life 2005 1h 5m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
History and experimental narrative blend two San Francisco stories, one of the Golden Gate Bridge and suicides, and the second of a lesbian searching for love and self-discovery.

Critics Reviews

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Brandon Judell IndieWire 09/18/2018
Another perfect film with a masterful screenplay Go to Full Review Rob Nelson Village Voice 11/07/2014
The result is gently hypnotic. Go to Full Review Sam Adams Philadelphia City Paper 11/07/2014
The Joy of Life combines intriguing but incompatible parts. Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 05/07/2020
Olson's awesome debut is actually two film novellas that straddle the parallel themes of ultimate joy and despair, one found in the embrace of a lover, the other in a desperate leap from one of the world's most heartbreakingly beautiful landmarks. Go to Full Review Eric Campos Film Threat 11/07/2014
3.5/5
The Joy of Life is an experimental film with an experiment that works. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey San Francisco Bay Guardian 11/07/2014
The Joy of Life is a cinematic love poem of sorts, just semirequited, as most things involving love are. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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02/28/2008 A purposefully meandering meditation on lust, love and death in San Francisco the cumulative impression of which is sublimely affirmative. See more 08/12/2007 I could watch this movie a hundred times. In fact, I have. See more 02/18/2007 I did not really like this movie. See more Read all reviews
The Joy of Life

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jenni Olson

Director

Harriet Dodge

Actor

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Actor

Jenni Olson

Screenwriter

Tom Rielly

Executive Producer

Scott Noble

Co-Producer
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The Joy of Life

The Joy of Life (2005) The Joy of Life (2005) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis History and experimental narrative blend two San Francisco stories, one of the Golden Gate Bridge and suicides, and the second of a lesbian searching for love and self-discovery.
Director
Jenni Olson
Screenwriter
Jenni Olson
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 5m