Happiness!
Title: Happiness
Cast: Jane Adams, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Director: Todd Solondz
Even though I haven’t seen Todd Solondz’s breakthrough feature film, “Welcome to the Dolhouse” I still had some sort of an idea on what to expect from his 1998 effort, called “Happiness” …ironically so. I have been hearing a lot about it, been wanting to watch it, but never really got the chance till about 2 months back…and have been wanting to write this piece ever since!
It’s the kind of film; everyone will have an opinion on. You will either love it (like me), or just abhor it. A lot of people, who I expected, would like the film actually say they hate it. It’s this sort of an extreme reaction to the film that compels me to write about it.
According to me, what is brilliant about this film is that one actually ends up empathizing with certain characters that one wouldn’t want to associate with in real life, on any level whatsoever! So I ended up feeling sorry for a murderer, a suicidal loser, a fellow who jerks off on the phone while talking to unsuspecting strangers, and well…a pedophile.
Traditionally, most movies present these kind of people as evil, intrinsically bad and there’s something not right about viewing them as “human”. I was shocked at my own reactions and emotions as the film unraveled. I laughed at the black humour so hard and then wondered what kind of stuff was I made of!!!
Basically, the director’s underlying message is that there is no such thing as “happiness”.
Some people give in to that fact and console themselves with living without it, while others who pursue it actively, only get disappointed as it hits them like a slap on the face.
The irony of the title is almost overwhelming in the end, even though one notices from the beginning that people are not happy. And what’s worse, is that you know as the film ends that they never will be…
Solondz is not the first director to take this road, showing us the sorry state of the human condition; David Lynch (another dir I enjoy immensely) has been doing it for years and years now, giving the audience a glimpse of all the ugliness that lies, just below the surface. May be the difference is that Lynch does it with lesser humour and more contempt.
Is happiness achievable then? Perhaps happiness is the most unreachable goal of all. Or perhaps, the idea is not to seek or look for it……not to try and reach it…its not a goal at all??
Make your own conclusions!
There are of course a lot of negatives in the film including too many characters and rambling from time to time, but I don’t want to talk about those things…
Happiness is definitely not for everyone.
In fact, it may not be for many of us, unless we have a taste for the bizarre and a thing for black comedies.
Happiness is definitely not perfect. But then, whoever said it was?
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boss … good to see u on PFC after a looong hiatus …
Happiness ?? ehmmm sounds real intresting … “murderer, a suicidal loser, a fellow who jerks off on the phone while talking to unsuspecting strangers, and well…a pedophile” …WOW !!!!
Given that i’ve started enjoying ‘dark’ and sadistic films a lot of late …. this might be just another movie to watch out for..
Thanks
One of the best scenes in the movie,i think, is the scene where the son confronts his pedophile father.
—————————————
Dad?
Yes, Billy?
Everyone at school is saying things about you.
( sighs )
Who is everyone?
Like, kids, you know.Everyone.
What are they saying?
That… you’re….a serial rapist …and a pervert.
You mean, like what they painted on the house?
( nervously )
Dad, did you, um… uh…with… Johnny Grasso and Ronald Farber?
Yes.
What… did you do?
I touched them.
What do you mean, exactly, touched?
I fondled them.
What for?
I couldn’t help myself.
What else?
I…I unzipped myself.
You…you mean, masturbated?
No.
Then what?
I…made love.
What do you mean?
I fucked them.
What was it like?
It was…it was great.
Would you do it again?
Yes.
Would…would you ever…fuck me?
No.
I’d jerk off instead.
( begins sobbing )
————————————–
his other movies:
welcome to doll house: How dark a comedy can get?
5/5
Story telling : very good. 4/5
palindromes : good. 3/5
hi malik..thanks for reviewing this movie.
thats what i call …an unknown gem.
I love dark films, and I love dark comedies more. But, Happiness was the last film I saw by Solondz, after that and the Dollhouse, I was done with him. He is a brilliant writer who casts wonderful actors and has great ideas for his films, but there is something so depressing and sad in everything that he does that I find it hard to connect emotionally with his films. I almost feel as if he tries so hard to shock his audience and make everyone feel for his characters that he takes away some of the humanity they have that would make them truly sympathetic.
Except, in Happiness, one character, the pedophile played by Dylan Baker. I loved the fact that he was so sympathetic, and I loved the discomfort I felt - I think that is what Solonz is trying for when creating his characters. But, I think that is more a testament to Baker as an actor than to Solondz as a director that the characterization was so good.
Although, I think I am the only person I know who saw this film and didn’t think it was genius….
i also love dark films/comedies. the best i have see n is Dog Day Afternoon. it’s just brilliant even though it is a bit long
Seems u r everywhere… it will be nice discussing movies with u…
Happiness is awesome.
It has the best ending ever in the history of cinema .
” I… I came ”
Those are the last lines of the movie.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is great too. I been thinking of watching the rest of his work…but somehow some other film comes in the way.