Norwegian sex romp comedy that won the Grand Jury Award (World Cinema Drama) at Sundance 2011. Centres on the consequential misbehavings of two married couples and the politically incorrect games of their children.
"There’s a well-honed eye for marital malaise here that’s reminiscent of Mike Leigh – and a matter-of-fact attention to details of sexual shenanigans that’s much more... well, Scandinavian. Schoolteacher Kaja lives happily enough in a remote town with her husband Eirik and their son. Eirik’s sour temper becomes much more obvious to the habitually chipper Kaja when affable Sigve, his lawyer wife Elisabeth and their adopted Ethiopian son move from the city and rent the (only) house next door. While the boys play games of unspeakable political incorrectness, their oblivious parents play more consequential grown-up games: truth or dare, for example, and hide and seek." (Source: NZ International Film Festival 2011)
"Happy, Happy" is a very strange film. Yet I was happy to be watching. It is short and intense enough that it always seems on track, even if the train goes nowhere.
Kittelsen's performance is the linchpin of the film -- her open, emotive face reveals as much about her thoughts as her poor impulse control.
The movie's understanding and insight come in moments so incisive that the sharpness will sting.
Although the film’s performances, especially Ms. Kittelsen’s, are strong, “Happy, Happy” is tepid stuff.
Its subversive intentions are ultimately undercut by its lack of nerve, along with a lurking sentimentality.
