Director: Anne Sewitsky
Cast: Agnes Kittelsen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Joachim Rafaelsen, Maibritt Saerens, Oskar Herns Brandso, Ram Shihab Ebedy, Heine Totland
Rating: (R16)
4 stars (out of 5)
Happy Happy is a rare animal, a Norwegian film in which the comedy translates well.
Set in snow-covered rural Norway, Happy Happy is centred on the character of Kaja (Agnes Kittelsen), a bubbly optimist with no reason to smile. Her husband Eirik (Joachim Rafaelsen) eschews the intimacy she craves in favour of televised wrestling and hunting with the boys.
Kaja's world is turned upside down when another couple running away from relationship issues rents their guest house. For Kaja, the arrival of strangers opens up a new world, and everything seems to be going swimmingly until the new friends unwisely bring out a "couples" board game" at a dinner party. The humour is subtle and at times a little hard to witness, due to Agnes Kittelsen's brilliance with facial expressions and awkward mannerisms. Her performance is the trump card, with her cheery demeanour the perfect foil for the angst around her.
Happy Happy might have more than a few dark moments of marital infidelity and confused sexuality but it's hardly grim. Engaging characters, kitschy set-ups and Kittelsen's neurotic humanism conspire to deliver a refreshing film that straddles the divide between funny and serious.
Best thing: Agnes Kittelsen's execution of dour Nordic humour.
Worst thing: The children's racist sub-plot. Amusing but unnecessary.
See it with: Anyone needing an early-winter pick-me-up.
- Written by Mark Orton.
