Happiness (1998 film)
- Jane Adams: Joy Jordan
- Dylan Baker: Dr. Bill Maplewood
- Cynthia Stevenson: Trish Maplewood
- Lara Flynn Boyle: Helen Jordan
- Jared Harris: Vlad
- Philip Seymour Hoffman: Allen
- Camryn Manheim: Kristina
- Ben Gazzara: Lenny Jordan
- Louise Lasser: Mona Jordan
- Jon Lovitz: Andrew "Andy" Kornbluth
- Molly Shannon: Nancy
Happiness is a film by director Todd Solondz, shot in 1998 in the United States.
Action
In a suburb in New Jersey, the three sisters Joy, Trish and Helen have different ideas about their future. While Joy dreams of her Prince Charming, Trish tries on the one hand to prevent Joy could be just as unhappy as themselves, on the other hand maintain a facade of the happy family. While Joy seeks happiness in a hopeless affair with her tutoring students Vlad, Helen, however, is a successful author who met their fears and artistic self-doubt with constant craziness. This includes their interest in Allen, a stalker who molested her on the phone. This, in turn, is being courted by his overweight neighbor Kristina. The parents of the three sisters eke out their retirement years in constant dissatisfaction. On top of Trish's husband, a pedophile psychiatrist who is oppressed by all, and their son, who is in the middle of puberty. An anonymous call brings the unstable life of the family completely shaken and chasms themselves.
Criticism
- Encyclopedia of the International film: ". A stylistically consistent designed study of repressed injuries and insurmountable behavior patterns through the radical reduction cinematic means is achieved an almost physically palpable psychological realism, which, thanks to the brilliant performer, the spiritual shortcomings of its protagonists detected essentially. "