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Happiness

Play trailer Happiness 1965 1h 27m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In suburban Paris, young François (Jean-Claude Drouot) appears to live a happy, contented existence with his wife, Therese (Claire Drouot), and their two small children. Despite his apparent satisfaction, François takes a mistress named Emilie (Marie-France Boyer), and, remarkably, doesn't feel the least bit of remorse for his philandering. While he is able to justify loving both women, François' infidelity results in tragic real-life consequences for both him and his family.
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Happiness

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Varda fills her frames with riots of nature and color, like Bonnard paintings come to life, and with an erotic intimacy to match, choreographing physical passion with unabashed but formally controlled delight. Mar 26, 2018 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand The delicately hued colors of the picturesque French countryside suggests an impossibly idyllic existence belied by the churning drama underneath. Jan 6, 2024 Full Review Josh Slater-Williams Vague Visages This particular film’s wrestling with the notions of happiness and love still proves more stimulating than myriad works that deal with transgressive ideas concerning relationships in a more explicit, openly provocative fashion. Nov 13, 2023 Full Review Ian Thomas Malone ianthomasmalone.com Varda takes great care with each frame of her lusciously shot film while presenting a nuanced perspective on polyamory that eschews the pearl-clutching ethics of non-monogamy that consumes far too many narratives on the subject. Dec 12, 2022 Full Review Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn Le Bonheur is a masterpiece. With one of the strongest screenplays and visual styles of all time, the film effortlessly is able to find a nuanced look at the human condition that has never been captured with the same power either before or after. Rated: A Aug 28, 2022 Full Review Manny Farber Cavalier An extended ad for Kodak, this movie is the esthetic opposite of Le Ben Hur: no action, no costumes, much all-round kissing, forest trampling. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sarthak R This raises some very uncomfortable questions about what we think happiness should be like. #masterpiece #horror Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/13/24 Full Review Petros T The colours and frames are wonderful, the (real-life) family's chemistry shines through, and the idyllic, bucolic happiness permeating the film is heartwarming in its relatable simplicity. Life doesn't only consist of such moments, but a film sure can. Yet the man's adultery puts a damper on things; and then comes the horrific finale, which really sucker punched me in its nonchalance. I feel the male perspective reduces its impact, but then again that was probably the point Varda wanted to make. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/18/23 Full Review Cynicus R Le Bonheur brilliantly exposes an imaginary contrast between the ultimate Stoic and the ultimate Hedonist—for death is not in his control the Stoic does not suffer; for he revels in polyamory the Hedonist does not suffer. In theory the former should represent virtue, the latter vice, but in reality the entire thing felt ugly because life follows a sine wave, the distinction of happiness necessitates sadness. Similar to Trainspotting's "Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?", the protagonist is escaping reality on a chemical as well. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Antonio F Protagonista terribilmente odioso e amorale. Film diretto e montato e fotografato splendidamente, Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/03/22 Full Review Audience Member A colorful and leafy puzzle about love, family and the limits of both. Without being carried away by a moral discourse and with an inherent hint of complicity, our favorite Frenchwoman takes many risks with this carefully detailed story, composed with intelligence and an eye for the color combination and the handling of actors, which stands as a narrative feat. of clear feminist leanings and devastating consequences. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review geoff a Decent enough but I wanted a different ending his actions are rewarded appropriately. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Happiness

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Movie Info

Synopsis In suburban Paris, young François (Jean-Claude Drouot) appears to live a happy, contented existence with his wife, Therese (Claire Drouot), and their two small children. Despite his apparent satisfaction, François takes a mistress named Emilie (Marie-France Boyer), and, remarkably, doesn't feel the least bit of remorse for his philandering. While he is able to justify loving both women, François' infidelity results in tragic real-life consequences for both him and his family.
Director
Agnès Varda
Producer
Mag Bodard
Screenwriter
Agnès Varda
Production Co
Parc Film
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 1, 2014
Runtime
1h 27m
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