Review of Happiness

Introduction

When you come across a film called "Happiness", what do you expect? I guess you`ll either expect "happy, happy, joy, joy!" or irony. Well, this is not a happy film.

It focuses on an extended family - 3 sisters (one called Joy, ironically enough), their parents and family and various individuals that they come into contact with.

This extended family is seriously disfunctional and we get insight into what the individuals consider as happiness and we watch them pursue their own versions of happiness with disturbing results.

And, before we go any further, I must stress that this is an extremely disturbing film. It deals with masturbation, pedophilia, and several other sexual and psychological dysfunctions in a very frank (and sometimes graphic way).

Happiness has often been called sick and twisted. OK, but is it any good?

Video

Video is non-anamorphic and letterboxed to 1.85:1. Image quality is adequate. Nothing special but certainly an improvement on VHS. That said, you are likely to be so engrossed or repulsed that you won`t notice the image quality much. It`s that kind of film. Image and sound quality is incidental.

Funnily enough, given the voyeuristic nature of the film, the "video" feel of VHS might actually add something to the experience.

Audio

Audio, again, is OK but nothing special. It offers Pro-logic encoding but this is not used to great effect. It doesn`t matter; it`s not that kind of film.

Features

Features are thin on the ground. All you get are a few trailers and TV Spots. These don`t add anything to the experience.

In many ways it is a shame that this film didn`t get a commentary. Regardless of whether you loved or hated the film, it would be fascinating to know what provoked Solondz to make this film.

Mind you, it is probably best we don`t know.

Conclusion

So, sick and twisted, but is it any good? That is a difficult call to make.

I, personally, hated it. I was repulsed by the subject matter and the way it was portrayed. There was nothing in the film for me to enjoy. I could certainly appreciate the performances of the cast, especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the pervert next door. They play their roles to such unlikeable perfection that they earn my respect. But they are a thoroughly unsympathetic bunch and you wouldn`t want any of them next door to you.

And, maybe, that is the point. You really don`t know what goes on behind closed doors, next door or otherwise, and this film gives you a hard look at some of humanity`s worst extremes. But, do you really want to look?

As I say, I didn`t like the film (it wasn`t made to be enjoyed, so we`ll set that aside). I appreciate some of the craft involved in it`s making but that isn`t enough for me.

It`s advocates will argue that film (and art in general) has a responsibility to show the negative as well as the positive. I don`t disagree. However, there is a difference between showing something and wallowing in it. The film comes across as being too gleeful in it`s treatment of the depradation.

So, in summary, the performances were undoubtedly good, with sound and video adequate. I would give it a low rating due to content. Others will disagree and that is fine. I`m not saying don`t buy/rent/watch because it`s crap. Just, be aware that it is a disturbing film.