I saw HGL this night, in Martinique (French West Indies). I don’t know why they call it “Be happy” in France.

But I know you are a fantastic actress; and from now I ‘ll look ahead to watch your movies.

I wish you the best!

Quite honestly, I wouldn’t have gone to see Happy-Go-Lucky if my girlfriend hadn’t pulled me to the cinema. But after seeing the movie I have to say you did a beautiful job portraying the complex character of Poppy.

Poppy is jazz-improvisational, a bit reckless, loving, and willing to travel just beyond the edges of convention. Most importantly, she makes you smile inside. In this Great Age of Anxiety we need our Poppy’s more than ever.

The Yanks across the Pond like myself will be looking forward to more great work from you-you’re an immense talent !

Martin

hey ,
yeah i have the same thing right here

Happy Go Lucky is a character driven, British film directed by Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies). The movie focuses on personality, attitudes and how people cope with life. The central character, Poppy, is a 30 year old elementary school teacher in north London, played by Sally Hawkins. She is free spirited, young at heart and irrespressibly optimistic. She is single and lives happily with her friend in a modest flat.

In the opening scene, she is riding her bicycle, with cheerful background music reminiscent of Rogers and Hammerstein. It is a gay and joyous introduction to an original character who reminds us of Julie Andrews in movies like Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music. And the first half of the film reinforces that perception of a movie totally light hearted and full of cheer.

Poppy is friendly, giddy and irrespressible in her joie de vivre. Sally Hawkins is truly gifted with her comic timing, which is very similar to the stylings of Ricky Gervais. Real people this happy once made me suspect, as I mistakenly perceived them to be without depth. Initiailly she seems too one dimensional, but we quickly discover her to be quite the opposite - smart and not shallow; her outlook on life is a choice or perhaps it is simply her DNA that makes her this way.

In the second half of the film, we discover several events in her life, that lend gravitas to this character and provides her with real substance. She encounters a student who has violent tendencies. She comes upon a homeless man and has an amazing connection with him out of sheer compassion. She empathizes with her pregnant, married sister who is not so happy after all, (despite appearances), and has an amusing, yet disturbing, experience with a very angry driving instructor. All of these events affect her deeply. She reminds me of a younger Emma Thompson, who also posseses amazing comic talents and at the same time, sensitivity and emotional depth.

Mike Leigh is known for serious movies and serious characters. And this is no exception. Ironically, this is a very poignant movie with so much humor and levity and a wonderful testiment to the human spirit. It makes us laugh and think about life and how we choose to be, in spite of all of life’s pains and struggles. Poppy is a wonderful, delightfult character in a very entertaining film, and Sally Hawkin’s performance is astounding.The movie leaves you feeling good about people and life.

Posted at 6:02 am by Hector1
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I’m from Russia, Moscow!
I have been waiting for Happy-go-lucky since summer, just watched it yesterday!
You are amazing, movie is wonderful, everything just great!
I think we should have more films like this one, everybody must remember that even though there are lots of problems in each persons life we all should KEEP SMILING:)
Thank you!

A Huge Fan,
Ariel E. Barber