Le Bonheur 1965 Now

Today, Le Bonheur is celebrated as a masterpiece of subversive cinema. It doesn't tell you how to feel; instead, it holds up a mirror to the terrifying ease with which we pursue our own contentment at the expense of others. It remains a vibrant, floral nightmare that lingers long after the credits roll.

Watch it. But do not watch it alone. And do not watch it expecting to feel good. Watch it to understand that the sunflowers, for all their beauty, grow from the earth that has swallowed the dead. le bonheur 1965

: Following a brief period of mourning, François "replaces" Thérèse with Émilie, who steps into the wife and mother role seamlessly. The film ends with the new family walking through the woods, visually mimicking the opening scenes. Visual & Auditory Style Today, Le Bonheur is celebrated as a masterpiece

: François views happiness as a non-zero-sum game where "added happiness" doesn't diminish his love for his family. His pursuit of fulfillment is entirely self-centered, overlooking the devastating impact his actions have on his wife. Watch it

The film opens in a sunflower field, saturated with gold and yellow. François (Jean-Claude Drouot) is a young carpenter, handsome and simple. He lives with his wife, Thérèse (Claire Drouot—the actor’s real-life wife), and their two small children. Their life is pastoral, set in the suburban tranquility of a village outside Paris. They picnic, they swim, they make love on Sunday afternoons. On the surface, this is personified.