Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 2008 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The one movie this fall that will put a smile on your face.

Plot:

A look at a few chapters in the life of Poppy, a cheery, colorful, North London schoolteacher whose optimism tends to exasperate those around her.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Driving | Friend | School | Lesson

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 33 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Sally Hawkins	...	Poppy
Elliot Cowan	...	Bookshop Assistant
Alexis Zegerman	...	Zoe
Andrea Riseborough	...	Dawn
Sinead Matthews	...	Alice (as Sinéad Matthews)
Kate O'Flynn	...	Suzy
Sarah Niles	...	Tash
Eddie Marsan	...	Scott
Joseph Kloska	...	Suzy's Boyfriend
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Heather
Anna Reynolds	...	Receptionist
Nonso Anozie	...	Ezra
Trevor Cooper	...	Patient
Karina Fernandez	...	Flamenco Teacher
Philip Arditti	...	Flamenco Student
Viss Elliot Safavi	...	Flamenco Student (as Viss Elliot)
Rebekah Staton	...	Flamenco Student
Jack MacGeachin	...	Nick
Charlie Duffield	...	Charlie
Ayotunde Williams	...	Ayotunde
Stanley Townsend	...	Tramp
Samuel Roukin	...	Tim
Caroline Martin	...	Helen
Oliver Maltman	...	Jamie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephanie Cannon	...	Flamenco Student (uncredited)
Tim Glanfield	...	Man in Pub (uncredited)
Vesna Vujat	...	Commuter (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Leigh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mike Leigh		writer

Produced by
Simon Channing Williams	....	producer
James Clayton	....	executive producer
Gail Egan	....	executive producer
David Garrett	....	executive producer
Georgina Lowe	....	co-producer
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gary Yershon

Cinematography by
Dick Pope

Film Editing by
Jim Clark

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Mark Tildesley

Art Direction by
Patrick Rolfe		(supervising art director)
Denis Schnegg

Set Decoration by
Michelle Day

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Durran

Makeup Department
Christine Blundell	....	hair designer
Christine Blundell	....	make up designer
Chloe Meddings	....	makeup assistant
Lesa Warrener	....	makeup artist (as Lesa Warner)
Chloe Meddings	....	junior hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Danielle Brandon	....	production supervisor
Polly Duval	....	post-production supervisor
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Abbie Browne	....	second assistant director
Chloe Chesterton	....	second assistant director
Melanie Heseltine	....	third assistant director
Serena Plunkett	....	third assistant director
Josh Robertson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Bruce Barnes	....	site supervisor
Jon Bates	....	assistant stand-by props
Andrea Bond	....	scenic painter
Gillian Campbell	....	scenic painter
Phil Claxton	....	scenic painter (as Phil Claxon)
Dan Crandon	....	construction manager
Matt Danko	....	scenic painter
Quentin Davies	....	prop storeman
Katrina Dunn	....	assistant art director
Arwel Evans	....	stand-by art director
David Gray	....	stand-by rigger
Nadine Herrmann	....	art department assistant
Jason Htay	....	carpenter
Ben Johnson	....	standby props
Ben Johnson	....	stand-by props
Garry Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Lara Murray	....	scenic painter
Tim Powis	....	workshop supervisor
Kathryn Pyle	....	production buyer
Ben Rai-Green	....	carpenter
Ifan Ramage	....	dressing props
Jody Raynes	....	supervising scenic painter
Simon Scullion	....	scenic painter
Nick Thomas	....	property master
Mick Treend	....	carpenter
Paul Trend	....	carpenter (as Paul Treend)
Libby Uppington	....	dressing props
Mark Wallis	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Antony Bayman	....	adr recordist (as Anthony Bayman)
Jason Canovas	....	dialogue editor
Ben Collinson	....	sound assistant
Robert Farr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Les Fiddess	....	foley artist
Tim Fraser	....	sound recordist
Simon Hewitt	....	foley artist
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: dolby
Lionel Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Lionel Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Martin Oswin	....	foley mixer
Mark Paterson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Schwalbe	....	foley editor
Steve Schwalbe	....	foley supervisor
Alastair Sirkett	....	additional sound effects editor
Nigel Stone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nigel Stone	....	supervising sound editor
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
William Towers	....	sound maintenance engineer (as Will Towers)
Tom Barrow	....	boom operator: daily (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ben Bradley	....	digital artist
Lorraine Johnson	....	film out supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
John Clark	....	electrician
Pearce Crowley	....	camera trainee (as Pearse Crowley)
John Evans	....	clapper loader
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	best boy
Stefan Kopec	....	stand-by rigger
Tom Lea	....	electrician
Simon Mein	....	still photographer
Matthew Moffat	....	gaffer
Gavin Ogden	....	electrician
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
Dick Pope	....	camera operator
Terry Roberts	....	electrician
Gordon Segrove	....	focus puller
Colin Strachan	....	grip
Neil Flaherty	....	second assistant camera: dailies (uncredited)

Casting Department
Robert Sterne	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Crossman	....	costume supervisor
Holly Waddington	....	assistant costume designer
Tamsin Wright	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Greg Barrett	....	digital intermediate producer
Stephen Bearman	....	film scanner
Gavin Buckley	....	first assistant editor
John Claude	....	digital intermediate colorist
Hanh Nguyen	....	editor trainee: FT2
Paul Shore	....	on-line editor
Rachael Watmough	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Jo Dale	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
J.D. Funari	....	trailer editor (uncredited)
Lance Spindler	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Mat Bartram	....	assistant music engineer
Mark Berrow	....	musician: violin
Terry Davies	....	conductor
Calna de la Mare	....	musician: violin
Liz Edwards	....	musician: violin
Andrew Findon	....	musician: flute (as Andy Findon)
Clare Finnimore	....	musician: viola
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
William Hawkes	....	musician: viola (as Bill Hawkes)
Patrick Herrild	....	musician: euphonium
Tim Jones	....	musician: french horn
Julian Leaper	....	musician: violin
Tim Lines	....	musician: clarinet
Rita Manning	....	musician: violin
John Parricelli	....	musician: guitar
Colin Rae	....	music preparation
George Robertson	....	musician: viola
Nina Robertson	....	musician: flute
Kleanthi Savidge	....	music clearances
Mary Scully	....	musician: bass
Richard Simpson	....	musician: oboe
Richard Skinner	....	musician: bassoon
Owen Slade	....	musician: euphonium
Sonia Slany	....	musician: lead violin
Sonia Slany	....	orchestra leader
Gary Thomas	....	music recording engineer
Derek Watkinson	....	musician: trumpet

Transportation Department
Paul Brosnan	....	transportation captain: facilities
Danny Brown	....	transportation captain: facilities
Simon Dennis	....	unit driver
John Doran	....	unit driver
Nigel Howard	....	driver: facilities
Steve John	....	driver: facilities
Mick Joslyn	....	driver: unit minibus
Andy Levett	....	driver: facilities
Martin Walsh	....	driver: facilities
Martin Walsh	....	driver
Dave Williams	....	facilities driver
David N. Williams	....	driver: facilities (as David Williams)

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Rhona Alsworth	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Pip Ayers	....	epk unit: Special Treats (as Pip Ayres)
Daren Bailey	....	marine coordinator
Debbie Banbury-Morley	....	clearance advisor (as Debbie Banbury)
Isabel Baquero	....	choreographer
Isabel Baquero	....	flamenco dance consultant
Nik Bower	....	production executive: Ingenious Film Partners
Colin Burrows	....	epk unit: Special Treats
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UK Film Council
Jonah Coombes	....	location manager
Guillaume de Chalendar	....	commercial affairs: Ingenious Film Partners
Graham Easton	....	completion bond: Film Finances Ltd
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Karen Fayerty	....	unit nurse
Mark Fielding	....	finance: Ingenious Film Partners
Gretta Finer	....	legal services: Filmn4
Ellen Fraser	....	legal and business affairs: Ingenious Media Services Limited
Paul Grindey	....	head of business affairs: Film4
Oliver Hazell	....	floor runner
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council
Nick Kay	....	production runner (as Nicholas Kay)
Edith Kähler	....	assistant to producer
Hannah Lamb	....	location trainee
Bek Leigh	....	accountant: Thin Man Films
Clem Leneghan	....	health and safety advisor (as Clem Lenergham)
Jo Littlejohn	....	accounting assistant
Andrew Matosich	....	legal counsel: Summit Entertainment
Sarah McBryde	....	production coordinator
Amy McCombe	....	assistant location manager
Justin Miller	....	assistant accountant
Jane Moore	....	distribution: Ingenious Film Partners
Tessa Morgan	....	secretary to producer
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory liaison
Robert Norris	....	solicitor
Kevin O'Shea	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Richard Philipps	....	solicitor
Jonathan Rutter	....	publicist: Premier PR
Justin Savage	....	epk unit: Special Treats
Heather Storr	....	script supervisor
Nikki Thornhill	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Peter Touche	....	operations: Ingenious Media Services Limited
Amie Tridgell	....	location assistant
Will Tyler	....	production accountant
Josh Yudkin	....	assistant location manager
Linda A. Borgeson	....	executive in charge of post production (uncredited)
Isabelle Duvoisin	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Jérôme Jouneaux	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Matthieu Rey	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Helen Varty	....	assistant: Tessa Ross (uncredited)
Charlotte Wright	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Film4 (financed by)
• Ingenious Film Partners
• Summit Entertainment
• Thin Man Films
• UK Film Council

Distributors

• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2008) (Spain) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2008) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Nettai Museum (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• SP Films (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sponge (2008) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Ledafilms (2009) (Mexico) (TV)
• Maple Pictures (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Miramax Films (200?) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Rialto Distribution (2008) (Australia) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2008) (New Zealand) (all media)
• SP Films (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Sandrews (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Shani Films (2008) (Israel) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Vendetta Films (2008) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• West Video (2008) (Russia) (all media)

Special Effects

• Special Effects GB (special effects)

Other Companies

• A&R Security  security
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• Angel Studios  music recording and mixing facility
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles
• Dining Bus Services  additional facilities
• Exposure Lab  still processing
• Fatts  post-production script services
• Film Finance  completion bond
• Fuji Photo Film  film stock provided by
• Go Truck  additional facilities
• Goldcrest Post Production London  post-production facilities
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound re-recording facility (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Hare In The Gate  rushes courier (as Hare in the Gate)
• LEM Digital  avid editing equipment
• M&C Cars  additional unit cars
• MK Travel  unit minibuses
• Media Services  stationery supplier
• Midnight Digital  Dailies
• Midnight Transfer  digital grade
• Midnight Transfer  rushes telecine
• Moviemakers  additional facilities
• Movitech Camera Rentals  camera and grip equipment (as Movietech Camera Rentals)
• On Set Location Services  location vehicles (as On-Set Locations)
• Premier PR  publicity
• Reed Smith Richards Butler  solicitors
• Reel Vehicles  action vehicles
• Spats Catering Co.  catering
• Special Treats  epk unit

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | USA:R | Germany:6 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Hong Kong:IIA | France:U | South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Finland:K-7 | Sweden:7 | Singapore:PG | Mexico:B | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Peru:14 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Holloway Road, Holloway, London, England, UK

Company:

Film4

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Poppy cycles South of the river over Blackfriars Bridge but gets off in postcode EC1 (shown on a road sign), which is north of the river. A minute later, when she walks into a shop, she's in SE1 - which is where she should have ended up.

Quotes:

Title Card:[first lines]
Poppy:[pulls out book from shelf] The Road to Reality...
[smiles and pushes the book back]
Poppy:Don't wanna be going there!
[laughs]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Maltin on Movies: Awards Special 2011 (#1.25)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Try Again

Whatever she's on, I'll have a double, please

Mike Leigh's done it again ... for fans and detractors alike! Poppy, his latest creation, sails through this slice of life with a smile on her face, fun on her mind and kindness in her heart.

Irritating? I didn't think so. On my good days, I rather hope there's a little of her in me.

For me, she was quite brilliantly brought to life by the excellent Sally Hawkins. Ironically, if she calls to mind any other inhabitant of Planet Leigh then it's probably Jane Horrocks's rather more sour Nic (or was it Nat?) in Life Is Sweet.

And Poppy has much to be happy about. A true friend, with whom she shares a not-too-shabby flat in a Finsbury Park that I shall not stoop to comparing with the N4 district of my own experience. A job she was born to do, among supportive colleagues. An enjoyable social life, memories of travels past, a cool reetro bike (for a while, at least ... ) and a wardrobe straight out of (ahem!) an Australian's nightmare all go to emphasise the message given by the film's title.

Into her life ambles driving instructor Scott, played by the ever-welcome Eddie Marsan, and the real fun begins. If Poppy can be said to stroll across the surface of life's duckpond without even getting the soles of her cowboy boots wet, then Scott is a man slowly drowning. The film's strongest plot line (this *is* Mike Leigh!) charts the evolving relationship between these apparent opposites,and the interplay really lights up the screen.

To say more would dent your enjoyment should you decide to go and see for yourself! If you go by bike, remember to lock up securely or - better still - maybe your best friend will take you along in her "mad" yellow car.

However you get there, why not let Poppy's attitude infect you for a few hours after you leave? It probably will anyway ...