Hector's Journey or the Quest for Happiness (film)

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Movie
German title Hector's journey or the search for happiness
Original title Hector and the Search for Happiness
Country of production UK , Canada , South Africa , United States
original language English
Publishing year 2014
length 120 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
JMK 10
Rod
Director Peter Chelsom
script Peter Chelsom,
Tinker Lindsay ,
Maria von Heland
production Christian Angermayer ,
Klaus Dohle ,
Trish Dolman ,
Christine Haebler
Phil Hunt
Compton Ross ,
Judy Tossell
music Dan Mangan ,
Jesse Zubot
camera Kolja Brandt
cut Claus Wehlisch
occupation

Hector's Journey or the Search for Happiness (Original title: Hector and the Search for Happiness ) is a German-British-Canadian drama comedy directed by Peter Chelsom from 2014, who also wrote the script together with Tinker Lindsay and Maria von Heland . The film is based on the novel of the same name by the French writer François Lelord from 2002 . The leading roles are played by Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike . The film describes the journey of the psychiatrist Hector in search of the secret of happiness.

action

Hector has everything in life - he's a successful psychiatrist, has a cozy home and a beautiful, loving friend named Clara who takes care of him all around. But he is increasingly frustrated because he cannot help his patients with real happiness and cannot even define it. So he goes on a study tour in search of the secret of happiness. It begins in Shanghai, where he is invited to an exclusive nightclub by a businessman. Via a remote Chinese monastery in the mountains, Hector travels to Africa, where he visits his old student friend Michael. He also made the acquaintance of drug lord Diego Baresco, was kidnapped, but released thanks to a pen borrowed from Diego and engraved with his name.

In the end, the journey to his old college sweetheart Agnes takes him to Los Angeles. On the flight there, he helps a woman with a freshly operated brain tumor who wants to visit her sister one last time. He meets Agnes on the beach, who is now married and a mother of two (a third child is on the way). A phone call with Clara ends in an argument. Agnes arranges a meeting with Professor Coreman, who has developed a new method for visualizing states of mind in the human brain. He tests this first on Agnes and then on Hector. However, Hector's emotions are blocked and only a call from a reconciliatory Clara opens him up to his emotions. Professor Coreman realizes that true happiness is not just a feeling, it is all feelings combined. Hector's journey is over and he rushes home to marry his Clara.

Parallel to the action, Hector's diary entries are displayed during the film:

  1. Making comparisons can ruin one's happiness.
  2. Many people think that happiness means always being richer and more powerful.
  3. Many people only see their happiness in the future.
  4. It would be lucky to be able to love two women at the same time. (later crossed out by Hector)
  5. Sometimes happiness means not understanding something.
  6. Avoiding unhappiness ... is not the way to happiness.
  7. Do you mostly feel A) good or B) bad about this person?
  8. Happiness is to find one's destination.
  9. Happiness is when you are loved for who you are.
  10. Sweet Potato Stew!
  11. Fear prevents happiness.
  12. Happiness is when you feel alive all around.
  13. Happiness is knowing how to party properly.
  14. To listen is to love.
  15. Nostalgia is no longer what it used to be.

background

Simon Pegg was cast in the title role Hector on May 19, 2012. Rosamund Pike and Christopher Plummer joined on September 6, taking on the roles of Clara and Professor Coreman. The role of businessman Edward then took over on November 1, 2012 Stellan Skarsgård. Veronica Ferres also took on a small role in the film as a clairvoyant who has lost her skills. Film production began in January 2013, before Toni Collette (Agnes) and Jean Reno (Diego Baresco) joined on April 2, 2013. The cost of production was £ 9 million (~ $ 15 million).

criticism

The film received a rather medium rating internationally. On the rating portal "Rotten Tomatoes" it was rated with an average of 4.6 out of 10 (based on 83 reviews). In Germany, too, the criticism was rather mixed. The Filmstarts editorial team awarded 3 out of 5 stars, but wrote: “Even if Simon Pegg […] now and then comes into contact with local clichés […], the French […] writer François Lelord has his underlying bestseller but spiced with so many moments of 'real life' that as a viewer, in the midst of the so-will-be-happy calendar slogans that Hector doodled in his little diary, the film was received from Critics give it 6.1 / 10 and readers 6.9 / 10.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Certificate of Release for Hector's Journey or the Quest for Happiness . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , July 2014 (PDF; test number: 144 811 K).
  2. Age rating for Hector's journey or the search for happiness . Youth Media Commission , accessed on 12 January 2017 .
  3. ^ Nancy Tartaglione: Simon Pegg On A 'Search For Happiness' . In: Deadline . May 19, 2012 ( deadline.com [accessed January 1, 2017]).
  4. Toronto 2012: Rosamund Pike and Christopher Plummer Cast in 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' . In: The Hollywood Reporter . ( hollywoodreporter.com [accessed January 1, 2017]).
  5. ^ Stellan Skarsgård joins 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' . In: TheWrap . November 1, 2012 ( thewrap.com [accessed January 1, 2017]).
  6. ^ Peter Chelsom: Hector and the Search for Happiness. August 14, 2014, accessed January 1, 2017 .
  7. Mike Fleming Jr: Toni Collette, Jean Reno Set To Star In 'Hector And The Search For Happiness' . In: Deadline . April 2, 2013 ( deadline.com [accessed January 1, 2017]).
  8. ^ Hector And The Search For Happiness. Retrieved January 1, 2017 .
  9. Filmstarts: Reviews - Filmstarts.de. Retrieved February 18, 2019 .
  10. Hector's Journey, or the Search for Happiness. In: moviepilot.de. Retrieved January 1, 2017 .