Happy

2012
7.2| 1h15m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 11 February 2012 Released
Producted By: Wadi Rum Films
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.thehappymovie.com/
Info

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.

Genre

Documentary

Watch Online

Happy (2012) is now streaming with subscription on Prime Video

Director

Roko Belic

Production Companies

Wadi Rum Films

Happy Videos and Images

Happy Audience Reviews

Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie
Brightlyme i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.
Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.
Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
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.
Kiernan Holland Its got zero proof, it offers no scientific data, it leaves out "sex", in fact it implies sex but won't go there.. It tries to claim that happiness from taking care of people can equate to a drug like cocaine, which is a load of crap, if that were true people would find it easy to get off drugs.. The truth of the matter is that once you do an addictive drug you have a tingling feeling, sort of like an itch, that never goes away, and once you've done the drug a lot, it shuts down your ability to experience pleasure.. Now for someone who is addicted, if dopamine response is diminished due to long-term drug use, the dopamine response to the drug makes you feel "normal" whereas not having the drug makes you feel "depressed", in that case I would say that doing any activity equates to the happiness in a "addicted" drug addict doing something like cocaine. But the movie only plays chicken with the idea, it doesn't really have any proof. It could be regarded as a Buddhist conversion tape because it doesn't cover any other religions, in fact it implies that those who practice Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths "are less happy".. Normally I like liberal documentaries, but this one leaves you thinking "that was nice, oh wait, I just got rick rolled"..
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.
james treadwell (Spoiler Warning)!!!! This film will make you happy! What an amazing feeling I had after watching this film. Film may not be the correct term in describing this passion project of genius, Roko Belic... I think the word experience is apt. Funded and executive produced by comedy directing legend Tom Shadyac(Ace Ventura, Evan Almighty), Mr. Belic takes us around the globe in a search for what it means to be happy...and we find it! It is hard to put into words what he has accomplished in this riveting and eye-opening documentary, but we see and feel that true happiness is pretty easy to attain. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. SEE THIS FILM/EXPERIENCE!