Monday, April 21, 2008

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY - En Ra Ha-ha-ha!

En Ra Ha!
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is a marvellous film from British writer-director Mike Leigh. Unlike some of his best known films - VERA DRAKE, SECRETS AND LIES - HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is remarkably up-beat and life-affirming. I've heard some people describe it as less consequential than Leigh's previous films because of that. I think this is to profoundly misunderstand the movie, but I can see why they do it.

The movie is about a thirty year-old primary school-teacher called Poppy who lives in contemporary North London. She doesn't own a house or a car and she hasn't got a boyfriend. But she is happy: she has great friends, a job she is passionate about and a full life. Poppy expresses herself with a big grin, almost constant laughter and a quick wit. She wears loud, bright, clashing clothes. Indeed, she looks like a refugee from the 1980s.

I thought I might find Poppy's twittering optimism annoying, being a dreary old cynic myself. But the whole point about this film is that Poppy isn't delusional or superficial or blithe. She is, in fact, fully engaged with the world. When confronted with racism, or homelessness, or violence or physical pain, she doesn't walk on by but deals with the situation head-on. And all the time, she does so with patience, empathy and a cheerful disposition. Moreover, she isn't a martyr: she knows when to withdraw from a situation. So, instead of choosing not to see the grim realities of life, Poppy makes a positive, intelligent choice to see all that hardship but to deal with it.

To that extent, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is, as one of the characters says in the final scene, a film about people who "choose to make their own luck". In other words, it's a film about the power of individual choice: that on a small scale, every day, we can make choices that make life better. And what could be more consequential than that?

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is then, a film that has a positive and important message. But that description makes it sound terribly earnest and dull. And that's precisely what it isn't. The movie is full of closely observed scenes of how good friends behave in each other's company - indeed, it's rare to see such credible depictions of mature female friendship on screen. It's also a tremendously funny movie, but like all of the best comedy, has its roots in every-day situations that we can all relate to.

The movie is universally well-acted. Sally Hawkins won the Silver Bear at Berlin for her performance in the lead role, but Alexis Zegerman (perhaps better known as a playwright) is fantastic as Poppy's stalwart, best friend Zoe. Eddie Marsan, once again, is transfixing in his role as a tightly wound, paranoid driving instructer, and Kate O'Flynn is hysterically funny in a small role as Poppy's younger sister.

What more can I say but that Mike Leigh has once again produced cinema that is intelligent, thought-provoking, original and uniquely his. This is without doubt one of the best films I have seen all year.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY played Berlin 2007 where Sally Hawkins won the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Actress. It is ucrrently on release in the UK. It opens in the Netherlands in May 15th; in Germany on July 3rd; and in the USA on September 25th.


  1. I'd certainly have to agree with your well written review.

    I was particularly struck with the sequence involving the "tramp" who spoke gibberish to Poppy; she listened and treated him with all seriousness. This was, for me, in some ways the heart of the film. Poppy relentlessly empathized with others and did all she could to communicate with everyone in her path. This is why she is so dumbstruck when she so obviously miscommunicated with the driving instructor who thought she was making a pass rather than just being genial.

    The film is delightful and deep. Certainly, it's one of the best films of the year.

  2. That's a really insightful comment - it had passed me but it strikes me as dead on - Poppy is all about communicating empathy, so to be completely misunderstood by the driving instructor must indeed have been jarring.

  3. Poopy is a clueless naif, not funny as Amelie, and without a story to keep up interet in her. Leigh created interesting characters, but did no develop them. What did Poopy learn from her experiences? Will she be just as ditzy at 50?

  4. hello, I stumbled on this post after searching "en ra ha" on yahoo after seeing this movie, lol. I know this movie is like 4 years old but after reading what you wrote I am moved to respond. It strikes me as a dangerous message the way you have interpreted it...I believe the film shows Poppy subjecting herself to unnecessarily risky situations, and in the end we see her best friend Zoe and her laughing together but being grateful for her safety. I was left thinking, do they know how lucky they are? Personally I think this is the message the writer intended. It just brought up so many questions, I relate to her character, and that driving instructor was so unbelievable- I mean believable- because that is exactly how a lot of people are out there, almost purposefully looking for people to persecute. Really thought provoking. Makes me analyze, how dangerous has my behavior been? Is it worth it? How lucky am I?