Summaries

In 1999, King Jigme Wangchuck approved the use of television and Internet throughout the largely undeveloped nation of Bhutan, assuring the masses that rapid development was synonymous with the "gross national happiness" of his country, a term he himself coined. Director Thomas Balmès's film Happiness begins at the end of this process as Laya, the last remaining village tucked away within the Himalayan kingdom, becomes enmeshed in roads, electricity, and cable television. Through the eyes of an eight-year-old monk impatient with prayer and eager to acquire a TV set, we witness the seeds of this seismic shift sprouting during a three-day journey from the outskirts of Laya to the thriving capital of Thimphu. It is here the young boy discovers cars, toilets, colorful club lights, and countless other elements of modern life for the first time.—Sundance Film Festival

Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon, the world will come to him: the village will be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki's eyes.—Anonymous

Details

Keywords
  • monastery
  • television
  • bhutan
  • cutting someone's hair
  • cutting hair
Genres
  • Drama
  • Family
  • Documentary
Release date Oct 31, 2013
Countries of origin United States Finland France
Language Dzongkha
Filming locations Thimphu, Bhutan
Production companies ARTE Making Movies ITVS International

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 20m
Color Color
Aspect ratio

Synopsis

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