Review of Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) by Michael D — 12 May 2009

This film is a largely disarming exploration of Poppy, an anything-but-common primary schoolteacher. Particularly on account of the opening scenes and our first glimpses of the character, we are inclined to underestimate her and where the film will be taking us: perhaps on a vacuous tour of an idiosyncratic personality where eccentricities outweigh complexity. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Layer upon layer is revealed and each scene adds a deeper understanding of who Poppy is and what her motivations are, resulting in the portrait of a nearly perfect, free spirit. Ostensibly the film is devoid of a plot and instead director Mike Leigh allows Poppy the freedom to display various strands of her life that by filmâ??s end have been woven into a rich tapestry.

Digging a little deeper, various social criticisms are perceptible such as: parents using television as a surrogate parent; some people criticize others for breaching social convention out of envy and dissatisfaction with their own ability to do so (e.g. the overbearing, pregnant sister and Carl the driving instructor); no matter how kind someone is, true empathy â?? as opposed to pity or sympathy â?? for the homeless is nearly impossible. Other aspects are more reflection than criticism, for instance the parallel Poppy draws between Carlâ??s present anger issues and the bullying she witnesses among her pupils.

Mike Leighâ??s purpose is perhaps to depict an ideal that too few of us are capable of realizing, namely an infectious cocktail of kindness, empathy, individuality and inhibition.