Le bonheur c'est une chanson triste

It's a hot summer period in Montreal for Anne-Marie, who has just given up her job with an advertising agency (she looks cool and fierce in a suit). She wants to explore life a bit before taking on new work, so she starts man-in-the-street interviews with a camcorder she finds in the street; the question is what is happiness? Some of the interviewees are dull, some are pretty interesting. The most engrossing encounter takes place in a parked car with a man she knew in school--he is newly divorced and looking for a place to stay, visibly ill at ease with the situation he's in. The two sit in the car, belting down vodka and wine and laughing, crying... great scene.

Anne-Marie Cadieux has a striking face: broad planes, a big mouth and lovely eyes. I first saw her in a photographic installation by her elder sister Geneviève Cadieux: those enormous eyes in a painful, sorrowful emotion just riveted me (circa 1995).

It is NOT a pre-fabricated melodrama.

Yes, "thirty-something woman finds video camera on the street and decides to ask people what they think happiness is". But to reduce this moving viewing experience to such banal words is... unworthy of any meaningful reduction.

She does NOT act "cute" or "lost", and she "does NOT complain for two hours about how miserable her life is". Not at all: she simply LIVES fully in front of our eyes and goes through a wide range of moods, feelings... Montreal during a heat wave never seemed more strangely inviting !

The audience, myself included, have to vibrate through this most humane experience thanks to Anne-Marie Cadieux, a luminous actress, if ever there was one, and an efficient supporting cast.

We are NOT witnessing any ridiculous statements from the people she interviews. On the contrary, we share a multi-layered semi-documentary approach to very contemporary issues, most importantly on THE meaning of life and the pursuit of so-called happiness. With no answers given. But with surprises at every other turn... isn't it what life is about, in a way?

Thirty-something woman finds video camera on the street and decides to ask people what they think happiness is.

While she's at it she takes her time to act "cute", "lost" and complain for two hours about how miserable her life is. We, the audience, have to endure this experience in a DV shot film, with an irritating actress and supporting cast.

We are witness to ridiculous statements from the people she interviews, such as a lonely man, a drug addict and other stereotypical characters of urban life. The main character takes her time and gives the most irritating laughs in recent cinema.

Another "sad bastard" movie.

Avoid it.

Le Bonheur c'est une chanson triste (2004) is a film written, produced, and directed by François Delisle. It played at the 2005 Cinefranco Film Festival in Toronto (www.cinefranco.com). The premise is seemingly simple: Anne-Marie Cadieux plays Anne-Marie, a former ad agency art director. Anne-Marie has gotten out of the advertising rat race, but hasn't really gone on to the next step. She prowls the streets of Montreal, asking people, "What is happiness?" and recording their responses. Most of the people she talks to are hot, rushed, and hostile. Some are shy, some are garrulous, some are friendly.

This film is worth seeing because the premise is so unusual. It's not a masterpiece, but I'm glad I saw it.

I mean...

OK, I might not be totally objective, since right at the start that's a subject that attracts my attention. I would say a movie talking about happiness, or meaning of live that kind of stuff almost has to lose a favorable opinion...

But still, I'm pretty convinced it's a real good movie, kind of in between documentary and some kind of really personal autobiography. It's definitely a fairly sad movie (as the title gives it away), but at the same time at the end you just feel like going outside and doing any of theses crazy ideas of yours that had been asking for your attention all that time. Besides, the story of the girl is fairly uncommon, and if that kind of story isn't narrated the right way you might just dismiss it as unworthy, but that's not the case here. Partly because Ann-Marie succeeds in being mysterious but smart at the same time. And it doesn't pretend it has any definite answer to what happiness, or life, is, which is great.

And, well, makes you wonder what happiness really is, if anything.

On the other hand, Delisle tried to put some special effects to his movie (like when Anne-Marie is wandering out at night), which are fairly efficient, but not really anything new.