The Secret of Happiness aka Secretul Fericirii, written by Alexandru Popa - 8.8 out of 10

The Secret of Happiness aka Secretul Fericirii, written by Alexandru Popa
8.8 out of 10


The title of the motion picture, although very attractive and provocative, seems to ironical, if not outright cynical, for we might learn more about disaster than serenity and merriment watching the feature.

That is on one level, for otherwise, in certain scenes, different lines and propositions do contain some secrets, in spite of the fact that the director, who also has one of the leading roles - seeing as there are only three actors and a child, all are main parts - , declared that he cannot share it, for then it wouldn't be a secret.
One example is the very outrageous proposal, for conservative minds, those who are more progressive, ultra liberal would find it uninspiring, that they choose variety and have sex with other partners.

This is one secret of happiness, summarized by the Harvard Professor of Positive Psychology, a course that has been the most popular ever there, Tal Ben-Shahar in his Lasagna Principle...
He said that he loves his mother's lasagna, which is his favorite food, but he would not be able to eat this all day, everyday.

Vlad Zamfirescu is the inspired director, who also plays Tom - he had been involved with this project, before making this film, he had had a successful run with The Secret as a play - we have been talking about it at the sauna today, for it was in the Cinemax program last night, and I was told that it had opened somewhere in the Old Center.
One night, Tom talks with his friend, David aka Theo Marton, who has seemed less accomplished than his partner on the set, about desires, pleasures, forbidden dreams.

They had smoked marijuana, an aspect that seems not impossible, but somehow less probable in the circumstances, and Tom insists on the strong bond that connects the four friends, the men and their wives, Tom's spouse, Ana aka Irina Velcescu, talented, but a little bit exceeded perhaps by the challenging part, and Monica.
Tom expresses admiration for his friend's wife, which would soon become a more sensitive, rather rude and outright vicious confession.

In The Female Brain, one of the classics of psychology, the wondrous author talks about the huge difference between the desires of men and women...yes, we are all equal, but 'some animals are more equal than others'.
During a given interval of time, men - of a 'eligible' age, not those in their nineties yet- men think of sex many more times than women do and thus the pretense of Tom that Ana and women in general feel the same, think in the same manner about this issue is false.

After a somewhat prolonged introduction, Tom takes the path of sincerity, asking his friend if he likes Ana and how will he feel about switching partners, perhaps twice a month.
David is flabbergasted and appalled, at least on the face of it, for we would soon learn that this is a more complex situation and there are a few layers to uncover in the quest for the truth.

But he admits that he finds Ana very attractive and he had even had a dream about her, which does not mean that he finds the dashing, but perverse sounding demand of his host - they are on the splendid terrace, which belongs to Tom's penthouse that would cost over one million dollars in my view - this is another element that does not feel right, the background of these characters appears implausible, for they look too rich to be so sophisticated and intellectual.
Ok, not all the super rich, some of them inflating the value of their assets, are as stupid as Trump, or hilarious as our local version of the clown-turned-president.

But I just don't see them involved in such elaborated, clever, insightful, labored, psychological games.
Anyway, when his wife joins them again, Tom is pushing for a switch, although he takes it easy and tries to be diplomatic, sensitive, logical and most of all, open and honest.

He claims it, for we will soon see it is in fact a very cunning, deceiving, deceptive attitude.
Ana is furious and insulted by the proposal, although her spouse maintains that she should go the bedroom with David and see...

Maybe nothing will happen.
Besides, Monica would feel much more inclined to agree to explore, think about this idea if the show will have been started.

Angry, load, vicious, aggressive words are shouted.
Finally, Ana gives the impression that she is so furious, aghast at what her mad husband is doing, that she wants to punish him...

So you want to fuck Monica and you are giving me in order to have that!!

Words to that effect and many more insults and invectives are poured up there, above the skyline of the city...not too high, we have very few tall buildings and no skyscraper.
Eventually, Ana asks David to come and walk with her to the bedroom, if this is what the pervert, mad, horny dog of a husband wants.
David has maintained a confused, retreating, explanatory manner, repeatedly stating that they had smoked weed, his friend doesn't know what he is saying and they should meet again the following day to discuss this or maybe better forget about it.

As he walks with Ana to her bedroom, Tom stops them.

It took you only a couple of minutes to see and regret it? Asks his wife

No, I just wanted you to give him one of my shirts to sleep in...
But David does not use one in bed...

The climax, or one of them, is reached when, in just a few more minutes, Ana and David return and Tom starts asking:

When have you started tucking each other?
And he would repeat that.

Although the other two vehemently deny it, adding that Tom is crazy and he must be so insane that a doctor has to see him, most likely, other words, but in vivid protest nevertheless.

Coup de theater!
Ana and David have had sex with each other.

To find the details, the salacious aspects of their infidelity and the other, perhaps even more earth shattering revelation - if it is one - that comes next, you need to look, find and see this intriguing movie.