Happy Movies, Happy People

Never underestimate the power of a happy movie. Yes, there is a time, a place, and a necessity for sad and poignant films, but sometimes you need a break between Schindler’s List and Requiem For a Dream. Happy movies also do one thing very well: they give us hope. Ask any single person during Christmas time who has just watched Love Actually.

Hug Don’t Hate (the people who offer free hugs in Marsh plaza on Fridays) are putting this idea to use and hosting a three day “Happiness Film Festival”. They are screening three films in BU Central, starting tonight, that present different aspects of happiness in our lives.

The concept is pretty simple. When brainstorming ideas for events, Trish Garrity, Hug Don’t Hate vice-president and event coordinator, said “Why don’t we just show really happy movies and we will all feel better?” Garrity said they chose the three films based on happiness through community, dance and love.

The first film, Amelie, represents happiness through community. It stars the adorable Audrey Tatou as a shy waitress who has dedicated her life to small, simple pleasure and performing random acts of kindness. The movie displays how she reaches out to others in her community, Garrity said.

The second film, shown on Wednesday night, is the documentary War Dance, about a dance group in Northern Uganda who work toward a dance competition amidst the atrocities of war.

The final film, Paper Heart, is a “hybrid documentary” that tells the story of Charlyne Yi’s attempt to find out if love really exists by traveling the country and talking to different people about what love means to them.

“We’re just trying to get people to notice the basic happiness that is in their lives,” said Garrity.

Simple idea, big (motion) picture.

Amelie will be shown at BU Central tonight at 7:30 p.m, War Dance is on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Paper Heart is at Friday at 8 p.m.

About Heather Vandenengel

Heather Vandenengel (CAS '11) is a campus writer for the Quad.

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