Happy Is Not Hard to Be (2005)

HAPPY IS NOT HARD TO BE follows the lives of a diverse group of family and friends in Los Angeles, whose paths intersect at a time of personal turmoil and uncertainty. Reflecting the ... See full summary »

Director:

Cecil Castellucci

Writer:

Cecil Castellucci

Stars:

Tanya Allen, Robert Benjamin, Royana Black

Cast

Credited cast:
Tanya Allen	...	Ruth
Robert Benjamin	...	Bobby "Aces", Theater Actor
Royana Black	...	Nikki
Cecil Castellucci	...	Christine
Patty Cornell	...	Lola
Kathleen Coyne	...	Maggie
Flint Esquerra	...	Flint
Colleen Fitzpatrick	...	Chloe
Julie Gawkowski	...	Julie, Theater Actor
Chuma Hunter-Gault	...	Boaz
Rachel Levy	...	Rachel, Theater Actor
Jonathan Pessin	...	Joel
John Sharkey	...	Sharkey, Theater Actor
Jenine Smith	...	The Psychiatrist
Jason Van Over	...	Guy

Storyline

HAPPY IS NOT HARD TO BE follows the lives of a diverse group of family and friends in Los Angeles, whose paths intersect at a time of personal turmoil and uncertainty. Reflecting the discontented melting pot of Los Angeles itself, this modern family struggles to find harmony when new and old faces enter their lives. NIKKI is living in the shadow of the country's foremost expert on happiness-her mother, MAGGIE-and blames her lonely and miserable existence on a woman who finds happy escape at the end of a marijuana pipe. Her younger sister, CHRISTINE, remains blissfully ignorant to worries and problems, even when her ex-husband, BOAZ moves back into town with a beautiful new wife, RUTH, in tow. Boaz's reunion with his old friends and family in Los Angeles throws Ruth's life into turmoil as jealously fans feelings of isolation in her new surroundings, which is not the paradise she thought it would be. At the same time, Christine and Nikki's playwright brother, FLINT, contends with ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutual Friend George Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The members of the cast were allowed to name their own characters.

User Reviews

actually independent

This is a great little independent film in the vein of Robert Altman or P.T. Anderson, only shorter (88 restrained minutes!) and without tragedy ensuing at every turn. Maybe Nicole Holofcener's movies (Walking and Talking, Lovely & Amazing) would make for a better comparison, because this film definitely has the woman's touch and not quite so much testosteroney angst. Writer/director/actress Cecil Castelucci is a working artist with many talents - her credits include songwriter, author of young adult fiction, and performance artist. No, it isn't the first movie about a handful of intertwining lives in L.A., and it won't be the last, but it's definitely one of the more watchable. I hope to see more from this director!