"Happiness is a Sad Song" "Sir?" "Excuse me..." "I'm doing a survey on happiness." "Happiness?" "That's a good question." "I can't answer it." "I'm totally flummoxed." "What do I know?" "Come on, it's too hot for this!" "To me, happiness is inner weII-being." "Being comfortable with oneself is being happy." " It's not material?" " No." " Not at all?" " That's irrelevant." "OK, thank you." "But... if I gave you a million bucks, what would you do?" " A million?" " Yes." "First of all, I'd take it." "Second, you're far too smart to be walking around alone carrying a million bucks." "And three, I don't accept the impossible." "I'm happy with who I am." "What's in your...?" "It's my kora." "I'm performing tonight." "Come." "It's over there." "Sure, why not?" "It's hot out." "It might be air-conditioned." "What'II you do with my answer to your survey?" "I don't know yet." "Is this for a student project, or TV?" "No context." "No budget." "I'm not accountable to anyone." "It's just for me." "I've been walking around for 2 weeks asking this question." "Asking people like you." " May we speak informally?" " Yes, of course." " What's your name?" " Momar." "Momar." "Where are you from?" "I'm Anne-Marie." "Hi, Anne-Marie." "I'm from Burundi." " really?" " Yes." "Make a film with this?" "..." "No." "It's just words, gestures, fragments." "I don't know." "It's not film material." "My producer friend might be interested in your reality show." "Yeah, but... it's not that." "So what is it?" "I don't know..." "It's like an exigency..." "A necessity." "I have to do it." "It could restart your career." "Excuse me." "My career." "Yes, TV's related to advertising." "I'm through with advertising." "No, listen." "I'm not giving it to a producer to make it into a TV show." "OK, then." " This is all I can give you." " Thanks." "Thanks." "I'm taking back the flat." "I got an offer and I sold it." "Come back to work." "We're swamped these days." "Your job's still open." "If this is a bribe, here." " Take it." " No, keep it." "Keep it." "Your boss sent you?" "No, but she mentions you." "I Ieft 6 months ago." "Anne-Marie, art directors like you are rare." "Just ask, they'II take you back." "I'm not going back." "I decided to leave." "I didn't like the lifestyle." "Understand?" ""lifestyle."" "You have nothing, you're destitute, remember?" "How can I forget?" "Drop it, OK?" "Have you spoken to David lately?" "He's in Germany." "We're taking a break for a while." "I'II tell him when he gets back." "I'm hungry!" "I walk 10 to 12 km a day, 6 or 6 days a week, in this heat." "And people answer you." "Oh, yes." "You just go ask, "What is happiness?"" "I don't ask everyone." "I'm selective." "I go by instinct." "Like radar." "It's incredible how generous people are." "They open right up." "It's very intense." "You've got guts." "I dunno." "Maybe." " It's just a bad patch." "it's not." "It's a life change." "It's just 'til you get perspective." "I have perspective." "It doesn't matter if you don't understand." "I do." "It's OK." "What is happiness?" "I'm serious." "Thank you." "Loosen up." "You're a drag." "Gotta go." "Where?" "Someone I filmed." "I'II call you, OK?" "I'm the camera girl!" "Asking about happiness." "isabelle?" "Excuse me, do you find me pretty?" "Do you find me pretty?" "Excuse me, do you think I'm pretty?" " What?" " Am I pretty?" "Why are you asking?" "I'm just asking." "I want to know if I'm pretty." "Sure." "You're not ugly." "What does "not ugly" mean?" "Just barely pretty enough?" "Why do you ask?" "I'm 16 and never had a boyfriend." "I want objective feedback." "Not from my parents or guys my age." "We think everyone's the same, but people are unconventional." "I'II get an idea of my worth, what I should expect." "Virginity at my age is abnormal." "I want to be part of society, not sidelined." "But this is dangerous." "You might meet a weirdo." "Why are you filming me?" "I ask them what happiness is." "Why?" "I don't know." "I can't explain." "We're all lost." "How's that?" "We're asking people where we fit in." "There'II be more and more like us." " Do you believe in God?" " No." "I'm not religious either." " I have a theory about that." " really?" "Before, even if your life was bad, difficult, really terrible... there was Heaven." "Now we must make it on our own." "There's no way out." "We're stuck with ordinary life on Earth." "Ordinariness is excruciating." "We must learn to live with it." "We're not the only ones doing this:" "looking to others to be happy with ourselves." "It was really..." "She was a strange girl." "Very intense." "I don't know..." "She moved me." "When I saw her this morning," "I Ieft and tried to catch up to her..." "I can relate to her." "I can't explain." "It really..." "It really gets me." "I know you want a reality show, but I'm not interested." "It's strange." "I can't help it..." "I Iike this." "will this be broadcast?" "I Iook terrible." "The first thing is to satisfy my needs." "And what are your needs?" "health, money, ambitions, goals." "I'm the type who's never satisfied." "Every time..." "I've already had..." "Before experiencing this, I'd say..." "I don't know..." "Attaining happiness..." "I don't think I ever have." "I always get what I want." "For exampIe, I'm preparing..." "Before, I wanted to study software engineering." "I achieved that." "Now I'm doing a thesis in industrial engineering." "But... it's not enough." "ultimately, I'm aiming for something else." "That's why, I don't know, defining happiness..." "I can't do it." "I guess I'm complicated." "Oh, my God." "Excuse me." " Fine..." " Are you OK?" "Are you OK?" "It's your question on happiness." "Can we speak informally?" "It's just that..." "It's not the kind of question I want to ask right now." "I gloss over it." "Things are fine but..." "I'm not happy with life." "I'm unhappy." "Sorry." " I really didn't mean to..." " But you're still filming me." " What'II you do with that?" " No, I'm not." "So you watch that at night and say, "She's sad." "Not me." Great." " I'm not filming you." " Gotta go." "I wasn't filming...." "Excuse me." "We know each other..." "You're art director at that agency..." "What's it called?" " Communications 44." " Yeah, right." " Sorry..." " Remember me?" " The surfer!" " Oh, yes." " Excuse me." " still working there?" "No, I..." "What are you up to?" "Nothing." "Making a film?" "It's a national poster campaign" "A call center that desperately needs phone operators." "You're young, healthy, athletic, energetic." "So we chose you and 4 others to represent their ideal employee." "It's simple: biIIboards showing your typical pose." "Like, if you're a football fan, you'II make a football move." "Like this." "Any hobbies?" "Surfing." " Surfing?" " Yeah." "I surf whenever I can." "I work here in Quebec, then go surfing in Asia or Mexico." "I'm going to Ecuador next month." " God willing." " Great." "We'II see you surfing, and behind you, it'II say," ""Be like Marco." "Career: client rep." "Nickname:" "Coco." "Hobby:" "Surfing." "Favourite film:" "Pulp Fiction." "Status:" "HAPPY," in bold." " "Human-positive" advertising." " And the pay?" "Your fee?" "No, the phone operator's." "Why?" "So I can play the role." "Do you know?" "It's often part-time..." "Anyway, we don't know the exact shooting dates." "We're still negotiating with the client..." "I never heard back about the shoot." "I can't help." "I quit." "Sorry..." "No problem." "Goodbye." "I'm researching happiness." " Happiness?" " Yeah." "Happiness is surfing." "Surfing!" ""deadly Heatwave"" ""Heat Warning"" "What is... happiness for you..." "Anne-Marie?" "What is happiness to you?" "What is happiness to you?" "Happiness is a happy home with no problems." "The children have no problems." "The father and mother have no problems." "No one around has problems." " Everyone's happy." " Right." "Excuse me, sir." "What is happiness to you?" "I'm not sure." "You have no idea?" " It's too hot for this." " Thank you." "I dunno." " Nothing makes you happy?" " No." "Nothing." "Are you unhappy?" "Thanks anyway." "Goodbye." "God, you'd think I was doing a survey on sodomy." "It's only happiness." "I did this when I was 18." "Yes!" "I had to write an essay and I asked everyone around me - my parents, my friends, my professors, my young nephews..." "And you?" "For me... it's inaccessible, intangible." "It's not..." "It's elusive." "It doesn't stay permanently, imprisoned in space." "It's so ephemeral, it's scary." "You can't get over it..." "It's paradoxical." "paradoxical..." "inaccessible..." "And I'd say people who talk about happiness have sad eyes, Iike you." "Funny, you did this at 18... and I run into you." " Yeah..." "I've always liked ideas." "And I was 18." "Maybe I was anxious about my future life." "I'm not 18." "I don't know..." "And you?" "What's your answer?" "I Iike asking, but not answering." "people's answers blow my mind since I've been asking." "I wasn't expecting people... to give such varied answers." "It's funny..." "It's like people are revealing themselves." "Like mini-autobiographies." "They open up." "I walk, up and down..." "Verdun, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Villeray, Point St. Charles." "My legs are numb." "It's like a trance." "The world's different." "The city has changed." "It's all shifting." "People you overlooked become significant." "With people, I think, you must strive to share." "Even if I have" "When you get back next morning, you must reassume that feeling." "It's hard, getting your camera out, approaching people instinctively." "What makes you keep filming?" "You censor yourself:" "not him, not her." "Too rushed, busy, sad." "You discard such factors." "You attack relentlessly, 'til the batteries go dead." "Funny." "People's answers vary." "We're dissatisfied with life, the weather." "We lack control." "As if happiness changed hourly, with every Celsius degree." "This guy would never have talked at 5:00 p.m. in 35-degree heat." "I like solitary people, and cool mornings." "OK, here goes." "hello." "hello." "Excuse me, but I'm asking people on the street a question:" "what happiness is for them." "Damn good question for a guy like me, especially now." "See... my girlfriend, my ex," "lives with my son at that corner." "I Iive across from them." "Life with her has been hell." "No happiness." "She wouldn't acknowledge my paternity." "I finally got official paternity in april." "Two weeks later," "I spent 6 days in jail because she accused me of harassment." "criminal and by phone." "So to me, happiness... isn't having a united family with a car and a house." "It's not even about having a family." "I gave up." "It's feeling good alone." "And them?" "I hope they're happy themselves... and don't cause harm." "That's happiness." "I was with a complicated girl, and we screwed up a boy's life..." "Are you complicated?" "A little." "Are you filming me?" "For what?" "Hope you're not a cop." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "Know what I mean?" "What's wrong?" " Are you all right?" " Yeah." "I think it's... the sun and heat." "Lucky you don't live in my town, Mexico City." "Sometimes, it's even hotter." "Lucky..." "I'II take you home." "Sir?" "I'm asking people on the street what happiness is." "It doesn't exist." "No, I'm neutral." "No happiness, sorrow, bad or good." "So you're Zen." "You value life as it is." " That makes you happy?" " I just told you." "I don't get it." "Define neutrality" "I don't have time." "I'II trail you if you don't mind." "What do you want?" "I'd Iike you to explain yourself." "I never heard this point of view." "Happiness and misfortune are human terms." "I'm amoraI." "But you have feelings." "You can't just opt out." "That's what I seek to do." "And happiness won't give me neutrality." "Man invented the idea of happiness." "The dogma of happiness." "Man invents a Iot." "Out of pride." " Yes, but" " It's crap." "If men remained individuals, we'd be fine." "I don't understand." "If individuals stayed detached, not in society " "like animals - we'd be fine." "But animals form clans." "But they don't hurt people." "Man has twisted Nature, and himself." "This heatwave is abnormal." "always organizing, barricading scaring, perplexing us..." "religion, Marxism, socialism, liberalism." "That's what Man is." "Look at social histories." "AII the same, all false." "As Americans say." "The pursuit of happiness killed Communism." "The mix-up between the promised dream and miserable reality." "Man kills in the name of happiness." "You're talking more about religion and dogma." "You're not talking about material happiness." " Can I ask you something?" " Yes." "Why are you approaching people and asking them this?" "What's the point?" "Answer me that." "Are you doing a TV report?" "No." "What, then?" "No purpose." "You're silly... wasting our time." " No need to insult me." " You live for happiness." " Isn't it what people seek?" " We live to Iearn how to die." "But before we die, we live." "So what happens?" "What do you do besides that?" " Nothing." " Nothing!" "Advertising." "Advertising." "Now I get it." " You do?" " You wanna get your hands dirty, taste the real world before going back to your cushy milieu..." "What do you know about me?" "Why judge who I am?" "You have no right." " Eat shit." " Go to hell." " You go." " Bourgeoise." " Yeah, right" " Frustrated little bourgeoise..." "That's really smart, old misogynist coot." " You're ignorant." " MoraIizer." "Shut your face." "It's my kitchen." " Yeah..." " Get out!" " I'm leaving!" " So leave!" "Sorry it's Iast-minute..." "It's OK." "Got any money?" "Here." "You've somewhere to go?" "No, but" "You can stay at my house 'tiI you find a place." "No, that's no good for me." "I'II figure something out." "call me?" "Yeah." " Anne-Marie, call me." " Sure." "For anything." "What can I do?" "It's sold." "pascal?" "It's been ages." "twelve years." "Since university." "What are you up to?" " Touring my old neighbourhood." " Where do you live?" "The suburbs." " You have kids?" " Four." "Four!" "still in advertising, keeping people dissatisfied?" " What are you doing today?" " Nothing." "Want to come over?" "I was going to cook." " We can dine as ex's." " Sure." "I'm hungry." "Where's the car?" "Think we'II get through all this?" "You start early." "It's my last night." "For what?" "Pre-divorce." "House is sold, she has custody." "I'm losing everything." "Last night in my nice bungalow." "How do you feel?" "It's OK." "It's in the past." "Is it her or you?" "Her and me." "You know, after 10 years... you have no down time, you're raising kids, you gradually grow apart," "you can't get close any more, then... you realize no one's behind you." "AII right?" "My four daughters." "So pretty!" "Did you ever..." " Anyone in your life, any kids?" " No." "No children." "What's wrong?" "What is it?" "It's OK." "No, what's the matter?" "I used to be with someone." "Now I have nothing." "Nothing's left." "It'II be fine." "Do you have... anything else to drink?" " White wine." "Want some?" "Look..." "there's a Swiss army knife." " I had a fancy job." " Yeah." "Worked 6 years for this agency..." "I did... super campaigns that really worked." "They renewed my contract annually, gave me raises." "I made a fortune." "My boyfriend was never around." "But at some point, it's really weird..." "I lost interest in that lifestyle." "Sorry..." "What happened, you choked?" "That feels good." "I don't think so." "well, what happened?" "It started with this." "I went to see fireworks with a friend from work and her son." "I went grudgingIy." "I don't really like fireworks." "That's a drag." "Yep." "Where was I?" "Oh, yeah." "Afterwards, I went home because I had work to do the next day." "I found this." "No one was around, so I kept it." " This is boring, sorry." " No, keep going." "Why'd you keep it?" "Did you watch what was in it?" "No..." "It's just that... you're going through... more important things." " It'II be fine." "It's strange because... there was a cassette inside." "The cassette had..." "It was full of Iife." "A family..." "Excuse me." "When I saw it, all I couId think of... was my nice empty house, my absent boyfriend and my perfect resume." "I felt so dead in that life." "I was stuck." "I thought, this can't go on forever." "It's senseless." "That's it." "I quit my job." "I did it all on impulse." "sold all my stuff." "Paid my debts..." "You have nothing." "I should do that." "I have nothing either." "That's so rude." "Excuse me." "This feels good." "Raise a glass?" "I feel good..." "Know what would make me feel even better?" "Caress me." "Just stroke my hair, OK?" "This is my house." "No, it was my house." "This is my backyard." "My garden furniture." "Former garden furniture." "Anne-Marie." " What?" " Look at me." "Turn that off." "What is happiness for you?" " Stop, OK?" " No, what's happiness for you?" "unconditional love." "How's that?" "Now what?" "Promise me something." "What?" "Don't be afraid... I'm drunk, not dangerous." "I have no friends like you." "I need a friend." "I can't be what you want." "No, you're fine as you are." "I've nowhere to go, nor do you." "We could work together." "Ever been in love?" "Why do you ask?" "What d'you want me to say?" "I'll take up painting again." "Stop talking, OK?" "I'm a junkie." "Damn!" " What did that lunatic do?" " stole my bag, with my camera." "He stole everything, brandishing a needle." "Let's go to the cops." "Get on." "We'II go the station." "Sit there." " Have you done this long?" " almost 3 years." "I pick up all kinds." "In all stages." "Handicapped, autistic, the works." "You like it?" "I Iove it." "I Iove my job." "I was looking at your picture with your phone number." "Just 2 weeks..." "That's cool." "You know... how I feel about you... I didn't realize you wanted to talk to me... I want to say..." "Momar?" "It's me, the video-survey girl" "Oh, yeah!" "You've changed." " I went back to work." " still doing your film on happiness?" " I had to stop." "I lost everything." " I found work in the meantime." " until..." "well, I don't know." "Your question obsessed me." " really?" " I mulled it over." "In a rush?" "No, it's OK." "We laugh, we love, as people elsewhere suffer." "people are in agony right now, as we speak." "So your question doesn't make much sense." "That's my answer." "You thought all that because of my question?" "lovely women rarely come up and ask me about happiness." "It makes you think." "Did you discover anything?" "Not a thing." "That's not true." "I Iike connecting with people." "That was... more important, finally." " It was useful." " Yeah." "And your kora?" "Not today." "I've got a big meeting at Immigration... to determine if I have valid reasons to ask for poIiticaI-refugee status." "Happiness has no meaning." " But I'm glad to see you again." " Me too." " See you soon." " Yes." " Good luck." " Thanks, you too." "Excuse me..." "Do you have a family?" "I mean, 2 or 3 other kids, a wife with black hair?" " Yes." " You live in a house... somewhere." " Yes." " Did you lose this?" " That's my camera." " Right!" "I found it on the ground a while ago near the bridge and I couldn't find..." " Near the bridge." "Anyway, thanks." "Strange, but it was a joy." "Today, one thing's for sure." "The mirror I'm looking in reflects back." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I'm taking time to appreciate my life." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I face anyone I find on my way." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I won't burn everything tonight that I'll want tomorrow." "It's all happening today." "Vacationing in the south Today, one thing's for sure." "I'll be smarter if I have to pour my heart out." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I'm not going out 'til my chores are done." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I'm prettier." "I filled the darkness with colour." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I won't be alone at my funeral." "Today, one thing's for sure." "I won't crumple in a corner if I have to sob." "Today, one thing's for sure." "If I meet the man of my life, he'll have to wait." "I'll take care of myself first." "I'll polish the new and throw out the old..." "Sorry." "Were you waiting long?" "Just long enough for one or two articles." "There was a breakdown on the subway." " You didn't come by car?" " No, I sold it." "It's a Iong story." "I'II tell you later." "Did anything else change?" " So, how was it?" " Fine." "Work, work, work... and more work." "For a while now..." "I've thought of you." "It's funny..." "I get the feeling you're different." "You've changed." "I just have a Iot on my mind." "What else is new?" "Adaptation:" "FIeming/ Ahooja Anra Médiatextes, montreal" "SubtitIing:" "BBCom, Paris TechnicoIor Creative Services" " montreal"