12/02/2008

Lengthy applause followed today’s screening of Happy-Go-Lucky [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the highly anticipated new film by the (often) controversial English filmmaker Mike Leigh, in competition at the Berlinale.

This tribute to the power of optimism and positive thinking has brought a welcome gust of freshness to a festival that usually favours darker themes.

From its very title, Happy-Go-Lucky is a manifesto of the carefree nature – all the while never shying from critique or real problems - of its main character, elementary school teacher Pauline, or Poppy.

Poppy lives in a colourful London with a friend, also a schoolteacher. Her life, always characterised by a smile, unfolds among classes, flamenco and driving. Her sunny world is nevertheless a far from those of fairy tales, yet that among the little and big dramas of everyday life she still finds happiness.

The man behind critically acclaimed films such as Naked (1993), the Palme d'Or-winning Secrets and Lies (1996) and Golden Lion winner Vera Drake [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2004) is known for his unique method of directing actors. Working from highly detailed improvisation, he constructs each character separately, basing him on her on the specific context of each actor.

"I don’t make any moral judgments in my films, I ask questions," said Leigh. "I like creating a real, almost palpable world."

Happy-Go-Lucky was produced by Simon Channing Williams for A Thin Man Films (co-founded with Leigh), with support from Channel Four. Sales are being handled by London-based Summit Entertainment.

(Translated from Italian)