Very Happy Alexander by Yves Robert - 8.4 out of 10

Very Happy Alexander by Yves Robert
8.4 out of 10


Although rather simplistic and overblown, this hyperbole works to an important extent.

The idea that modern people spend too much time working, without enjoying their lives is more than pertinent.
Positive psychology studies show that it is illusory to postpone joy until we would have made enough money, accumulated enough prestige or both.

As experts say, one has to enjoy both the climb and the arrival at the top of the mountain.
Philippe Noiret was one of the giants of French and world cinema and he plays Alexandre le bien heureux aka Gartempe.

His life so far has been rather miserable, the paradigm of the worker who wakes up within the sun and enjoys no moment of bliss.
On some levels, it is ore than exaggerated.

Contrast his work in the fields, with that of those who have rice, which does not allow for any rest.
As a French farmer, Alexander would have long periods when the weather does no allow him to work the land.

Notwithstanding that, he has a tyrannical wife, Eliane aka La Grande.
She writes on a blackboard all the tasks that the poor man has to finish each long day.

But when she dies in a car crash, the widower becomes le Bienheureux!
He writes on the blackboard his new duties:

Dormir, dormir and again...dormir.

It is an evident stretch, with comical effects.
The Very Happy hero has a radiant m spectacular dog that brings him food in a basket, from the local shops, until they  would boycott the farmer who does not even want to get out of bed.

He throws the residues off the window.
To convince Le Bienheureux to get out of his voluntary reclusion, the kidnapp Le Chien.

They hero seems to be so lazy that he has not given the dog a proper name.
However, he is so attached to his fabulous companion that he would go look for him.

The splendid dog- performer is responsible for much of the success of the film.