Happy (2012)

Wonderful character development!

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

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.

Spoiler Alert. In the United States we are led to believe by advertising that materialism and having a bigger house and shiny car will lead to Happiness. We are starting to figure out this quest for more "stuff" is misleading & does not bring happiness. Happy and I Am are both wonderful documentaries that offer a alternative message, that we are out of balance with nature (cancer is the only other thing on Earth besides us that takes more then is needed in Nature), and that more and more money does not lead to a happy life. The moronic review "Biggest load of crap" by Kiernan Holland motivated me to write this review and respond to his review. "It offers no scientific data" - There is a ton of studies being done on the subject and to say there is no scientific data is a blatant lie. forbes dot /sites/learnvest/2012/04/24/the-salary-that-will-make-you-happy- hint-its-less-than-75000/ learnvest dot com/2012/01/top-1-complains-they-cant-make-ends-meet-117/ These are two quick studies showing with empirical evidence supports the claims in Happy. If all Kiernan Holland got out of this documentary is that it did not delve into sex, some confusing and stupid tangent into drugs, and that it is bias towards Buddhism, take his review with a grain of salt.

(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!

An excellent, thought provoking movie that will grab your attention and your heart. This should be required viewing for everyone. It is interesting and rewarding that Hollywood would produce for us a documentary on Happiness but at the same time has been a large contributor to trying to make us believe, falsely, what makes us happy. There is a well done piece also about what doesn't make kid's happy. It seems a shame that the producers found it necessary to search around the world to find happiness. My prayer is that it will abound and be readily evident in and around each one of us.A great movie that will warm your heart, stir your soul and hopefully make you think about a practical application in your own life.