Happy-Go-Lucky

Infobox Film
name = Happy-Go-Lucky


image_size =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Mike Leigh
producer = Simon Channing-Williams
writer = Mike Leigh
narrator =
starring = Sally Hawkins
Eddie Marsan
Alexis Zegerman
Sylvestra Le Touzel
Samuel Roukin
music = Gary Yershon
cinematography = Dick Pope
editing = Jim Clark
distributor = Miramax Films (US)
Alliance Films (Canada)
released = 18 April, 2008 (UK)
10 October, 2008 (US)
runtime = 118 min
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.happygoluckythemovie.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 1045670

"Happy-Go-Lucky" is a 2008 film by Mike Leigh, shot in 2007 and released on 18 April 2008. It is a contemporary comedy, set in north London and starring Sally Hawkins.

Plot

Poppy (Sally Hawkins) is a life-loving, irrepressibly cheerful, Pollyanna-type primary school teacher who is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic and accepting. She lives with her best friend and flatmate Zoe (Alexis Zegerman) in London. She is tested by a repressed driving instructor with anger problems (Eddie Marsan), and tests him in turn. She has exciting flamenco lessons, an encounter with a homeless man, a row with her pregnant sister, and a love-affair with the social worker guiding one of her students.

Critical reception

"Happy-Go-Lucky" received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. As of 8 October, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 97% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 34 reviews, giving the film a "Certified Fresh" rating, with the consensus that the film is "a light-hearted comedy with moments that bite, and features a brilliant star turn by Sally Hawkins.." [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009538-happy-go-lucky/] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 82 out of 100.

Premieres and awards

Competing at the Berlinale in 2008, it won Sally Hawkins the Silver Bear for best actress. The premiere for the film was held in Camden Town where the film is set on April 14 2008. In the United States, the film premiered in the New York Film Festival on 27 September 2008 and will open nationally on Oct 10, 2008

Locations used in the film include Camden Market , Regent’s Park boating lake [ [http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/4551/mike-leighs-london-locations.html Mike Leigh's London locations] ] and Southend on Sea.

Festivals

The film was featured in the 2008 New York Film Festival.

Cast

* Sally Hawkins as Poppy
* Alexis Zegerman as Zoe
* Andrea Riseborough as Dawn
* Samuel Roukin as Tim
* Sinead Matthews as Alice
* Kate O'Flynn as Suzy
* Sarah Niles as Tash
* Eddie Marsan as Scott
* Joseph Kloska as Suzy's friend
* Sylvestra Le Touzel as Heather
* Elliot Cowan as Bookseller
* Nonso Anozie as Ezra
* Trevor Cooper as Patient
* Philip Arditti as Flamenco Student
* Karina Fernandez as Flamenco - Spanish Dance Teacher
* Jack Macgeachin as Nick
* Oliver Maltman as Jamie
* Caroline Martin as Helen
* Rebekah Staton as Flamenco Student
* Stanley Townsend as Tramp
* Tim Glanfield as Man in Pub

References

External links

* [http://www.itvlocal.com/anglia/whatson/?player=ANG_WhatsOn_15&void=178730 Mike Leigh on the film Happy-Go-Lucky, ITV Local Anglia interview 2008]
*imdb title|id=1045670|title=Happy-Go-Lucky
* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2208868,00.html Trailer Trash: Happy go Leigh]
* [http://european-films.net/content/view/989/131/ "Happy-Go-Lucky" film review] on european-films.net
* Peter Bradshaw [http://film.guardian.co.uk/festivals/news/0,,2256053,00.html Happy-Go-Lucky] "Guardian" film review (i)
* Peter Bradshaw [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2274125,00.html Happy-Go-Lucky] "Guardian" film review (ii)
* Philip French [http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_Film_of_the_week/0,,2275000,00.html Happy days are here again] "The Observer" film review
* [http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/85152/happy-go-lucky.html Happy-Go-Lucky] "Time Out" review
* [http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/movies/10happ.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink Seeing the bright side] ] The New York Times film review