B-Happy

Director Gonzalo Justiniano's "B-Happy", along with "Machuca" (2004) proves that Chile can compete with Argentina's new wave and avant-garde cinema, though the latter is getting most of the worldwide recognition now.

"B-Happy", whose title is taken from an English phrase written on the blackboard in the lead character's classroom, tells the bleak story of Katty, whose family slowly abandon hers forcing her to rely on her own wits. The movie's narration, never losing focus from the lead character, is completely devoid of any sentimentality and is matter-of-factly and bluntly told in a series of vignettes, which resemble visual postcards. Kathy's father is incarcerated and her mother works in the general store. We get the feeling that Katty doesn't know her father that well, but in a moving scene he proudly relates the history--and resilience--of the family name.

The movie's bleakness is punctuated by the barren Chilean landscape which could substitute as a visual metaphor for the quiet desperation which young fifteen year old Katty must feel. The cinematography is stunningly impressive. Actress Manuela Martelli (Katty) portrays her character's suffering stoicly, with little emoting--her repeated mantra to the world is: "I'm not afraid of anything". She approaches each unpleasant event she is forced to contend with in the same detached, stoic manner. One scene which sticks with me ends with Katty sitting catatonic contemplates her bleak and worsening situation with a sad resignation. Unlike the character Maria for example, in "Maria, Full of Grace" she lacks any kind of carisma or inner conflict about what she does--in fact, she seems to embrace it, with gusto. She eventually must take drastic steps in order to survive, because, as she notes in one scene where she loses her virginity, "The only thing you can control is your first one". Katty is repeatedly victimized by a cruel system and society's unscrupulous, though she soon proves she is anything but a victim. One can't help but feel sympathy for her, but her Martelli's stoic characterization and the director's unique telling of the story-- (in short vignettes, some lasting less than 15 seconds)-- prevents the movie from turning into one cliché after another. Never once does she feels sorry for herself--the only sentimentality she allows herself is keeping a Polaroid taken of herself and her father, with a llama at the zoo. She wishes things could be different but they aren't, so she deals with the cards dealt her pragmatically, without allowing sentimentality to overcome her.

The second part of the movie takes place in the Chilean port city of Valpariso, as Katty sets out on a quest to locate her father, and the movie takes a predictable course without really going anywhere--this is, after all a character study with distinct noirish elements, especially with the gritty Chilean port of Valpairiso featured prominently. A good companion piece to compare this picture with is Argentinian director Maria Victoria Menis' "Little Sky", "El Cielito" (2004)--just as bleak but with the same theme.

I didn't know this film at all, simply happened to walk in on it at a local film festival. And I was pleasantly surprised. The story is too predictable, and in the end it really leaves me indifferent if anybody gets to go to this sea port in the north (I forgot the name, but everybody is always talking about it. I guess it must be a Chilean thing). But Manuela Martelli, the lead actress, was amazing. Very powerful in her passivity, and even more so when passion breaks through occasionally. And I nearly fell off my chair when she took off her clothes. I don't know how old she is, but quite young I guess, and this was her first film ever. So we may be in for a lot of future viewing pleasure. But I hope she'll be able to do more than Chilean films, because those are not easily seen in Europe outside of world film festivals.

Justiniano gave us a real one this time. This movie is shocking, frightening, and sometimes depressing, but the main character Martelli (Kathy) is always looking, without any fear, the way to survive the tragedy that the life can be for someones. Located in Valparaiso, the landscape are beautiful and the different rural locations are just like Chile really is. The director gave us a realistic view of Valparaiso, not the glam side of the city, but the dark and gloomy part of the harbor, that Valparaiso is. This movie is a great opportunity to entrance to the chilean movies, and I think that this movie it's a must seen for every chilean. Because you can recognize and watch a very accurate point of view of the people of the lately '90.

Some times I don't follow these foreign films that well but I have to say that Manuela really played the part. I would love to see her in an American film......she can speak the whole movie in Spanish if she wants I don't care. She will grow up to be a fine woman and actress if she should continue with acting. Maybe it's me alone but what ever age she is at the time of the film she can portray a very mature young lady in the film. I'm glad that HBO showed B-Happy and I was able to view it in it's entirety. I don't know the language that well but if there were no sub-titles I probably could have followed the film very easily and understood it.

I really enjoyed this movie. It gives you a glimpse of the poor, rural and less known Chile. The actors in the movie are very credible and give you a sense of very "ordinary" people. I watched the movie in Spanish and even their accent/dialect feels genuine. Manuela Martelli (Kathy) has the power to absorb you completely in the story and her performance justifies well the various international awards for best actress. In the story you see Kathy as a very strong, independent woman who has learned not to fear anything. She repeatedly says in the movie "ya no le tengo miedo a nada" (I no longer fear anything) and she adds her unsettling/scary new experiences to her list of things she does not fear. She is a child forced to grow really fast and to face circumstances that will break many of us--yes she relies on her inner strength to overcome her circumstances. At the same time you are able to see Kathy's vulnerability and her longing for love and affection. This is a drama with strong scenes that at times made me uncomfortable--but nevertheless a very well done film.