Happy-Go-Lucky

ON DVD The New York Times:Sally Hawkins wins the... Watch Trailer

What happens?

Just how hard is it to be happy? In the effervescent new comedy from writer/director Mike Leigh ("Vera Drake," "Secrets & Lies"), Sally Hawkins stars as Poppy, an irrepressibly free-spirited school teacher who brings an infectious laugh and an unsinkable sense of optimism to every situation she encounters, offering us a touching, truthful and deeply life-affirming exploration of one of the most mysterious and often the most elusive of all human qualities: happiness. Poppy's ability to maintain her perspective is tested as the story begins and her commuter bike is stolen. However, she enthusiastically signs up for driving lessons with Scott (Eddie Marsan), who turns out to be her nemesis ? a fuming, uptight cynic. As the tension of their weekly lessons builds, Poppy encounters even more challenges to her positive state of mind: a fiery flamenco instructor, her bitter pregnant sister, a troubled homeless man and a young bully in her class, not to mention that she has also thrown out her back. How this affects not only Poppy's world view but also the outlook of those around her begs the question "glass half full or half empty"?

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY stars Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Stanley Townsend, Kate O'Flynn, Caroline Martin, Oliver Maltman, Sarah Niles, Samuel Roukin, Karina Fernandez, Nonso Anozie, Sinéad Matthews, and Andrea Riseborough.

The producer is Simon Channing Williams who has previously collaborated with Leigh on 11 films, including the Palme D'Or winner and Academy Award®-nominated "Secrets & Lies" and the Academy Award®-nominated "Topsy Turvy" and "Vera Drake." Also re-teaming with Leigh are Academy Award®-nominated cinematographer Dick Pope, Academy Award®-winning editor Jim Clark, Academy Award® nominated costume designer Jacqueline Durran, Academy Award®-winning Make-up & hair designer Christine Blundell and composer Gary Yershon. Joining Leigh for the first time is production designer Mike Tildesley ("The Constant Gardener,"28 Days Later").

A Big Night for...

By Brooks Barnes and Michael Cieply
New York Times
Excerpt
January 11, 2009

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - "Slumdog Millionaire," Kate Winslet, HBO and its "John Adams" mini-series and NBC's comedy juggernaut, "30 Rock," were the big winners Sunday night at the 66th Annual Gold... more