21 March 2025.
AGENT OF HAPPINESS ***1/2 (vo Bhutanese/Dzongkha, Nepali)
Bhutan is a small, mountainous nation, nestled between Nepal, China and India, with breathtaking pure vistas and a citizenship that has been gently guided by its widespread king to imagine in its serenity and peaceable concord. It creates some stunning cinema, with movies akin to “Vacationers and Magicians”, “Lunana, a Yak within the Classroom”, or the current “The Monk and the Gun”, portraying the nation’s light and unified values. Attempting to guard its nature and its residents, it has curbed tourism by imposing excessive charges on foreigners touring inside Bhutan. And it’s a nation that’s proud of what’s referred to as its “Happiness Quotient”.
This documentary by Arun Bhattarai (Bhutanese) and Dorottya Zurbo (Hungarian) portrays two brokers working as kind of census researchers, touring all through the nation of their zippy automotive, evaluating the happiness of Bhutan’s residents via an in depth authorities questionnaire. It’s fascinating to comply with the 2 brokers and enter the lives of those varied individuals – each rural and concrete – listening to their each day routines, their beliefs and desires.
The tongue-in-cheek but tender tone of the documentary is enhanced by the gradual realisation that one of many brokers, the harmless, sweet-faced Amber Kumar Gurung, isn’t too positive about his personal seek for happiness. In reality, the fantastic thing about the movie is its honesty about the entire idealised concept of the GNH (Gross Nationwide Happiness) Index. It’s a fragile stability on this nation which appears to exist in tranquillity.
(Displaying on the GRÜTLI Cinemas)
MA MERE, DIEU ET SYVIE VARTAN **1/2 (vo French)
A boy with a membership foot is born to a mom who merely is not going to settle for that her youngest baby won’t ever stroll. This movie relies on the true story of the writer of the e book, Roland Perez, about his extremely devoted mom and her battles for his wellbeing within the Nineteen Sixties. The one who makes this movie shine is the French/Algerian actress Leila Bekhti, along with her distinctive appearing as a mom on an nearly holy mission. In reality, I’d already give her subsequent yr’s Cesar for greatest actress!
Here’s a melodrama of a giant, loving household that goes via unimaginable sacrifices to fulfil a decided mom’s dream of an entire, wholesome son. Her faith and her varied gods assist, however the primary incentive for the boy all through his rising pains is the favored French singer, Sylvie Vartan, subsequently the title. This emotional and infrequently amusing movie by Canadian director Ken Scott slows down in its fervour because the growing old mom’s preliminary power turns right into a burden because the years go by.
This tribute to a mom’s unconditional love would have been excellent if the script and route have been tighter and the just about miraculous flip of occasions much less drawn out. However the story is intriguing and touching, however.
Very good **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Depressing – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen opinions movie extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to eight movies per week and her goal is to kind the wheat from the chaff for readers.
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