filmatin

Sixth Happiness (1997)

Lust for Life

Once in a while a film comes along that fills you with such hope that by the time the final credits roll you feel that nothing in life is impossible. I was reluctant at first to see THE SIXTH HAPPINESS. But the glowing reviews in the New York Times and Newsday made go out anyway. Kanga does an amazing job playing a character not unlike himself from the ages of 8 to 18. All this at the age of 38! He is so charismatic, charming, disarming, and funny that his stage presence carries you through this tale that is touching, heart wrenching, and ultimately uplifting. I thought "Why would I want to see a film about a gay, disabled, Parsi? I would have nothing in common with him." But I was so wrong. The problems we all face: dealing with parents and siblings, finding love, potential marriage, and dealing with a cruel harsh and unforgiving world are universal. Seeing the problems that the character Brit surmounts made me realize how much I have in life and how easy it is to take certain things for granted. Knowing that he could find happiness - his sixth happiness with all the strikes he had against him filled me with a lust for life.