A Happy' way to look at life

At a time when the stock market is crumbling and everything seems to be moving sideways, a movie which is 180 degrees from our current reality may seem impossible to grasp. Surprisingly, that isn't the case with Happy-Go-Lucky, British director Mike Leigh's new film which opens today, and begs the question, Why is childlike eagerness in an adult so alarmingly out of the norm?

Poppy, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, played endearingly by Sally Hawkins, is a toss-caution-to-the-wind chatter box who doesn't see anything wrong with spreading good cheer, even when it is unsolicited (which it most often is). More comfortable in her skin than most, her childlike giddiness is in stark contrast to how other characters exist around her. This almost causes one to think there is something wrong with Poppy and we exhale a sigh of relief when we find she is shockingly understanding and tolerant with her elementary school students. Her every day adventures do give us a start (befriending mentally-ill homeless people, talking incessantly to those who don't want her to), and we keep waiting for something bad to happen.

Of course, not everyone in the audience will find her carefree attitude engaging, whether it be other characters or the audience.

Didn't you feel like you just wanted to slap her? my friend asked after the screening. Some moments were so uncomfortable I was squirming. This is more of a sentiment I would give to a rape or torture scene than to someone dancing about being happy. But my friend's comment only added to the realization that when adults act childlike on a fairly constant basis, they are perceived as immature, or even mentally ill.

Illustrating this point to its extreme is when Poppy meets for the first time her driving instructor Scott, played with convincing intensity by Eddie Marsan. Poppy just can't seem to stop interjecting her almost mocking but totally harmless (or so we think) comments to his control freak commands. The scene is funny and awkward at the same time because you can feel Scott's frustration with her and her unwillingness to stop being playfuleven if she is pushing him to the limit. This scenee accentuates what the movie seems to be say, which is that we don't have to let others affect our happiness. Poppy lives her life happily; as if everything in life is wonderful, even while those around her sulk and grimace.

Both Hawkins and Marsan are equally outstanding and compelling, but for far different reasons, and Oscar buzz will certainly abound for them. One can only hope this British gem prances into audience's hearts, the way that Poppy prances about London.

Written By Karen Wilder For DAME