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Happiness

  • 20132013
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
303
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Happiness (2013)
  • Documentary
  • Drama
  • Family
In 1999, King Jigme Wangchuck approved the use of television and Internet throughout the largely undeveloped nation of Bhutan, assuring the masses that rapid development was synonymous with ... Read allIn 1999, King Jigme Wangchuck approved the use of television and Internet throughout the largely undeveloped nation of Bhutan, assuring the masses that rapid development was synonymous with the "gross national happiness" of his country, a term he himself coined. Director Thomas B... Read allIn 1999, King Jigme Wangchuck approved the use of television and Internet throughout the largely undeveloped nation of Bhutan, assuring the masses that rapid development was synonymous with the "gross national happiness" of his country, a term he himself coined. Director Thomas Balmès's film Happiness begins at the end of this process as Laya, the last remaining villa... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
303
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Thomas Balmès
  • Writer
    • Thomas Balmès
  • Stars
    • Peyangki
    • Kinley Om
    • Ap Kinley Dorji
Top credits
  • Director
    • Thomas Balmès
  • Writer
    • Thomas Balmès
  • Stars
    • Peyangki
    • Kinley Om
    • Ap Kinley Dorji
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations

    Photos

    Happiness (2013)
    Happiness (2013)
    Happiness (2013)
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    Top cast

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    Peyangki
    • Selfas Self
    Kinley Om
    • Self - Peyangki's uncleas Self - Peyangki's uncle
    Ap Kinley Dorji
    Aum Thinley Dolma
    Sangay Thinley
    Rinchen
    Leki
    Pyago
    Choki
    • Self - Peyangki's sisteras Self - Peyangki's sister
    Chencho Thinley
    Namgay Dorji
    Jigme Singye Wangchuk
    • Self - King of Bhutan 1972-2006as Self - King of Bhutan 1972-2006
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Thomas Balmès
    • Writer
      • Thomas Balmès
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Brilliantly Filmed Representation of Changing Ways of Life
    In 1999, King Jigme Wangchuck approved the use of television and Internet throughout the largely undeveloped nation of Bhutan, assuring the masses that rapid development was synonymous with the "gross national happiness" of his country, a term he himself coined. THE HIMALAYAN BOY AND THE TELEVISION SET show how Laya, a remote village buried in the Himalayas, is gradually being dug up as new cables are installed to permit the technologies to flourish.

    The process of change between a rural and mechanized way of life is observed through the eyes of Peyangki, an eight-year-old boy, whose mother has sent him to a monastery in the hope that he will learn a contemplative way of life and thereby become pure in spirit as well as body. Peyangki resents the decision; he is shown returning to his mother, and pleading that he might go with a family friend to visit his sister, now working in the regional capital of Thimphu. After a grueling three-day journey, Peyangki discovers just how different the modern urban way of life actually is.

    Thomas Balmés' film quite brilliantly captures the contrasts between different ways of life. Peyangki is accustomed to simpler ways; his mother spends her time looking after her flock of yaks, and trying to shoo him away. In the monastery - where there are only two other worshipers - he is instructed in the virtues of the contemplative way of life, but he is more interested in talking about worldly matters. The camera vividly captures the contrast between the wild, untamed mountains and the primitive mountain shack that houses the monastery, in which dim butter lamps-flicker to illuminate the Buddhist shrine.

    The film transforms Thimphu into a gaudy city of the mind, in which bright lights flash, cars whiz by day and night, and the thronged sidewalks drive little Peyangki almost giddy with wonder. He re- encounters his sister at night, in a place where he (and his mother) would least expect - although admiring the person-made lights, there is a trace of wistfulness in his manner, as if yearning for the less pressurized existence of his rural home.

    However that existence is threatened by the inevitable march of progress. In a series of brilliant shots, contrasting the red- cloaked Peyangki with the anonymous-looking workers, director Balmés suggests that progress is not quite as desirable as the King of Bhutan might have assumed; it leads to standardization as well as conformity. The film ends with a shot of Peyangki running away from the camera, his monastic cloak fluttering in the breeze, almost as if he were a small red bird; this is contrasted with a series of static shots showing a Bhutanese family watching WWF wrestling on the television, understanding not one word of the English commentary. It is left to the viewers to draw their conclusions.
    helpful•6
    0
    • l_rawjalaurence
    • Nov 6, 2014

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 17, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United States
      • Finland
    • Official sites
      • ITVS International (United States)
      • Making Movies Oy (Finland)
    • Language
      • Dzongkha
    • Also known as
      • The Himalayan Boy and the TV Set
    • Filming locations
      • Thimphu, Bhutan
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • ITVS International
      • Making Movies Oy
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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