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VIFF 2009 | The Happiest Girl In The World
By VIFF Correspondent Jordana MahThe Happiest Girl In The World
Romania/Netherlands,2009,99min
DIR: Radu Jude
Life is tough for young Delia. Even though she had just won a free car from a juice company, she will never get to drive it as her parents wish to sell it off. All for the good of the family of course. Before the car can be sold, however, the family must get through a day of filming a commercial showing Delia driving off with her prize.
The film takes place over a day, but feels much longer thanks to lazy pacing. As well, the audience is frequently blocked from even seeing the characters interact as the camera is frequently blocked by passersby or various objects. Perhaps this was done to emphasize the observational viewpoint of the film, but it was more frustrating than illuminating. Despite these quibbles, The Happiest Girl in the World is frequently hilarious and full of human foibles and emotion. Delia is ripe with moodiness as the unfairness of life is heavy upon her. The best scenes of the film are when Delia argues with her parents to keep the car; here the dialogue is quick and sharp, and we simultaneously empathize with Delia and her parents who have sacrificed so much for their only (spoiled) child. Anyone who has ever been asked to sacrifice something they coveted 'for the good of the family' will find Delia`s situation eerily familiar, and director Radu Jude executes it with snappiness and aplomb. The cast perfectly fulfills their roles delivering sharp performances with utter believability. A great debut from a young, exciting director.
Schema Magazine's coverage of VIFF 2009 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
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October 16, 2009 at 12:23 AM
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