Happiness (2013)

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Movie
Original title Happiness
Country of production France ,
United States ,
Finland
original language Dzongkha
Publishing year 2013
length 80 minutes
Age rating FSK 0
Rod
Director Thomas Balmès
script Thomas Balmès
production Thomas Balmès,
Kaarle Aho ,
Juliette Guigon ,
Patrick Winocour
music British Sea Power
camera Thomas Balmès,
Nina Bernfeld
cut Alex Cardon ,
Ronan Sinquin
occupation
  • Peyangki
  • Kinley Om
  • Ap Kinley Dorji
  • Aum Thinley Dolma
  • Sangay Thinley
  • Rinchen
  • Leki
  • Pyago
  • Choki
  • Chencho Thinley
  • Namgay Dorji

Happiness is a documentary by French filmmaker Thomas Balmès from the year 2013 . Using the example of 8-year-old Peyangki, Balmès explores the question of whether the people of Bhutan have become happier through access to television and the Internet . In 2019, Balmès made another film with Peyangki, Sing me a Song , in which he observed how his life changed a few years later due to the new media.

action

In 1999, Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck granted his people access to television and the Internet in order to increase the country's gross national happiness . However, he also warns the Bhutanese population of harmful content in these media and that they must therefore be used carefully and selectively.

More than 10 years after this announcement, the remote village of Laya in northwestern Bhutan will be one of the last towns in the country to be connected to the electricity grid. The 8-year-old half-orphan Peyangki is supposed to become a monk in the temple according to his mother's wishes. However, he is more interested in television. In addition to his training as a monk, Peyangki observes the changes in the village. Together with his uncle Kinley Om he goes on a multi-day trip to the capital Thimphu . The family wants there a Yak sell the uncle to afford the proceeds her first television.

Eventually, Kinley Om and Peyangki bring a television to Laya. Other families in the village have also bought the devices and watch TV. The program mainly shows wrestling broadcasts. The Bhutanese view the program in silence.

reception

Stephen Farber praised the haunting images and soundtrack of British Sea Power in his Hollywood Reporter review , but criticized some obviously staged dialogues.

Awards (selection)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stephen Farber: Happiness: Sundance Review . In: hollywoodreporter.com from June 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2014 Sundance Film Festival Announces Feature Film Awards . In: sundance.org of January 26, 2014.
  3. ↑ 2014 Award Winners . In: sheffdocfest.com (archive version).