Independent American filmmaker Todd Solondz, whose only other feature film was the agonisingly poignant Welcome to the Dollhouse, now presents his ironically titled Happiness. In terms of dysfunctional families, the Jordan's would have to take the cake. Seemingly happily married Trish (Cynthia Stevenson), is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a father knows best on the surface, a paedophile not so deep down. Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle), is a successful writer who suspects she's a phoney and who's attracted to the anonymous phone caller who says he wants to rape her. He's actually her next door neighbour Allen - Philip Seymour Hoffman - who's not really her type at all. And then there's Joy, one of life's major losers who lurches from one painful mistake to the next.
Solondz has created an occasionally funny but mainly excruciatingly painful world, in which there are no connections of value, and any attempts to form a relationship are woeful misfires. The character of Bill, seemingly a caring father who has honest birds and bees talks with his son Billy (Rufus Read), is a major confrontation for an audience. Solondz has ventured into the most dangerous of territories here, appalling us and making us weep. The entire cast, which also includes Louise Lasser and Ben Gazzara as the parents of these three women, is stunningly solid and brave. Solondz's writing and direction is first rate. This is a daring film, but one of the best I saw in Cannes last year.
