''The Happiness of Others'' (french: Le Bonheur des autres) is a Canadian comedy-drama film, directed by
Jean-Philippe Pearson
Jean-Philippe Pearson (born 1970) is a Canadian actor and screenwriter. He is most noted as cowriter with Patrice Robitaille and Ricardo Trogi of the film ''Québec-Montréal'' (2002), for which they won the Jutra Award for Best Screenplay at t ...
and released in 2011. The film centres on Jean-Pierre (
Michel Barrette
Michel Barrette (born April 26, 1957 in Chicoutimi, Quebec) is a television and movie actor, television and radio host and stand-up comedian. He has played various roles in Quebec movies and television shows since 1982.
Profile
After serving i ...
), a middle-aged man whose marriage to Louise (
Louise Portal
Louise Portal (born May 12, 1950) is a Canadian actress, film director, singer and writer. She won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film ''The Decline of the American Empire'', and was a nominee for Best Actress for ...
) broke up 20 years earlier, as he announces to Louise and their now-adult children Sylvain (
Marc-André Grondin
Marc-André Grondin (born March 11, 1984) is a Canadian actor, known for his role as Xavier Laflamme in the 2011 ice hockey film ''Goon''. He also played Zachary Beaulieu in Jean-Marc Vallée's film '' C.R.A.Z.Y.'' (2005), for which he won a Jutr ...
) and Marion (Ève Duranceau) that his new girlfriend Évelyne (
Julie Le Breton
Julie Le Breton is a French Canadian actress. She predominantly appears in French-language television series and films.
Biography
She is best known internationally for her appearance in '' The Rocket'', a French Canadian biopic about legendary i ...
) is pregnant.Brendan Kelly, "A great idea runs into a fatal flaw". ''
Montreal Gazette
The ''Montreal Gazette'', formerly titled ''The Gazette'', is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Three other daily English-language newspapers shuttered at various times during the second half of th ...
'', October 7, 2011.
The cast also includes
Germain Houde
Germain Houde (born December 14, 1952) is a Quebec Genie Award-winning actor. He is predisposed by his physique to playing tough-guy parts; his screen characters have ranged from cruel criminals to corrupt policemen.
A graduate of the Conservatoi ...
, Stéphane Breton, Isabelle Vincent and Normand Daneau in supporting roles.
The film was shot in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
in 2010, and premiered on October 7, 2011.
Critical response
Brendan Kelly of the ''
Montreal Gazette
The ''Montreal Gazette'', formerly titled ''The Gazette'', is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Three other daily English-language newspapers shuttered at various times during the second half of th ...
'' rated the film just one star out of five, writing that "Le bonheur des autres should be a much better film than it is. There is the germ of a great idea lurking somewhere deep inside the first feature written and directed by Jean-Philippe Pearson but that good idea is smothered by a screenplay that's terminally flawed...First off, any movie that wastes the talent of someone as gifted as Marc-André Grondin has much to answer for. He plays Jean-Pierre's son Sylvain, and it's at Sylvain's 29th birthday dinner that his dad announces that he's set to have another kid. Sylvain's girlfriend dumps him in brutal fashion right at the start of the film, and that is about all that happens to him in the story. Much less convincing is the main couple, Jean-Pierre and Evelyne. How can I put this politely? Oh well, forget politeness. Jean-Pierre is such a jerk you don't for a minute believe someone as beautiful, smart and poised as Evelyne would spend a night with him, let alone form a family with him. Le Breton is pretty good - as always - but it just had me dreaming of the day this fine actress finally nabs the meaty big-screen role she deserves."
Awards
Portal received a
Jutra Award
The Prix Iris is a Canadian film award, presented annually by Québec Cinéma, which recognizes talent and achievement in the mainly francophone feature film industry in Quebec.Best Supporting Actress at the
14th Jutra Awards The 14th Jutra Awards were held on March 11, 2012 to honour films made with the participation of the Quebec film industry in 2011.