Le bonheur
The digitally restored classic Le bonheur is one of Agnès Varda’s most provocative films. In a deceptively cheerful manner, she explores the concepts of fidelity and happiness in a modern, self-centered world.
François, a happily married carpenter, accidentally falls in love with a young girl. Strangely enough, his affair actually strengthens his feelings for his wife and child. But how does he tell them this? An ironic portrait of middle-class family life, shot in pastel colors and interspersed with music by Mozart. The film won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
Varda presents her multi-layered and ironic film as a classic love triangle, shot in vibrant colors and full of visual references to Impressionist painting. Actors Jean-Claude and Claire Drouot were also married in real life.
About Agnès Varda
As a writer and director, the grande dame Agnès Varda (1928–2019) was a major voice in French and European cinema and the art world, with a unique eye for the magic of everyday life. Her socially conscious work is adventurous, critical, passionate, and empathetic. With her first feature film, *Cléo from 5 to 7* (1962), she established herself at the forefront of the male-dominated *Nouvelle Vague* film movement. She later gained fame with sparkling autobiographical documentaries. In 2014, the European Film Academy honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
