Review of Happiness (1965) by Reece L — 07 Nov 2015

A sarcastic portrayal of a man's idyllic dalliances outside of his marriage, Le Bonheur mocks the idea that a man is perfectly entitled to meet a woman, marry her, then meet another woman and move on without any consequence by portraying exactly this scenario in bright pastels and over-the-top sweetness to the point that it becomes subversive.

Varda's eye for color is impeccable, and the subtle shifts in the color palette signal the criticism she's attempting to convey in a way that feels fresh and original, something that more traditional forms of verbal communication wouldn't.

This isn't a groundbreaking or vital piece of filmmaking, but as a feminist indictment of the notion that men are owed happiness at the expense of the women in their lives, it's certainly a refreshing one.