“Happiness Is” Explores Love, Success, and Friendship in the Most African RomCom Way

“Life begins at forty” is an often-quoted line by adults who’ve reached the proverbial peak of aging. At forty, you’re expected to have your life in order, and if you’re a woman, you should be happily married with kids, have a thriving career, and be in the company of a tight-knit circle of friends. The heroine in “Happiness Is,” Princess (Renate Stuurman), who had a supporting role in the earlier “Happiness” films (“Happiness is a Four-Letter Word” and “Happiness Ever After”), has all the above except marriage. Instead, she has a baby daddy named Leo (Richard Lukunku), a talented artist with whom she has a great co-parenting relationship.

Everyone thinks Princess is happy because she’s the embodiment of positivity, but deep down, there’s a hole in her heart that can only be filled with love. This drives the plot of the film. To celebrate Princess turning forty, her best friend and event planner, Tumi (Gail Mabalane), plans a lavish birthday bash, but Princess bails at the last minute due to feeling overwhelmed. She retreats to her mother’s holiday house for some peace and quiet but Tumi follows her there and brings along some uninvited guests: her sneaky link-turned-fiance Sabelo (Siv Ngesi), Sabelo’s sister, Nelly (Phaphama Nqabeni), and brother, Tony (OC Ukeje), Tony’s friend Fifi (Rosemary Zimu), and Leo who, to Princess’ surprise is dating Nelly.

The crowd irritates Princess, but she warms up to them, and soon the group become fast friends. Everything goes on swimmingly until jealousy, an unplanned baby, and the genuine fear of commitment threaten the group’s unity. All conflicts are resolved thanks to mature adult conversations, and Princess finds someone who might fill the hole in her heart-the house chef named Mawethu (Anton David Jeftha).

“Happiness Is” excels in its take on the universal themes of love, self-discovery, and the pressures of modern society-while grounding them in an African setting. The film maintains a light, relatable tone, balancing humor with heartfelt moments as the characters navigate their struggles. Princess may have been the film’s heroine, but the other characters are given as much spotlight as she is-and it is beautiful to witness. From Tumi and Sabelo’s on-again-off-again situationship to Leo and Nelly figuring out how to be a couple with Princess in the picture, every character and their feelings are equally catered to.

The cast of “Happiness Is” delivers compelling performances that bring authenticity to the film. Stuurman captures the grace and class that Princess personifies. Despite these alluring traits, she’s also human, and Stuurman shows us this through her actions and facial expressions of jealousy, passion, and well, happiness.

Mabalane’s portrayal of Tumi, a woman who, having been hurt in her past relationship, is afraid to fall in love again, embodies the contradiction of a successful woman who wants to be in love with Sabelo but chooses to keep things casual for her mental health.

Lukunku adds a lot of depth to his character as Leo, a talented artist who wants a life outside of Princess, and indeed finds it in the form of Nelly. The talks of his past struggles with alcoholism, as well as his trying to be a better father for his daughter, make him the standout character of the group.

Ngesi as Sabelo, the lovesick puppy enamored by Tumi, puts audiences in their feelings. It is hard not to root for him as he tries his best to convince Tumi to convert their situationship into a real relationship.

Nqabeni as Nelly showcases maturity on an astronomical level. Her character could easily be unnoticed due to the other eccentric ones, but her portrayal is cool, calm, and collected. It’s almost like she has lived the life Nelly did prior to taking on the role.

Ukeje and Zimu, as Tony and Fifi respectively bring in the energy and humor when things between the group get a little tense. Their larger-than-life antics, coupled with their “go with the flow” energy, prove that really, life isn’t supposed to be THAT serious.

The visual aesthetic of “Happiness Is” beautifully captures the breathtaking city of Johannesburg. Director of Photography, Kabelo Thathe crafts scenes that range from the elegant restaurants and bars to the expensive art spaces that Princess inhabits. These visual elements add to the film’s appeal.

Also, the fashion choices for the film are fantastic; the outfits are full of bold and vibrant colors that adhere to the film’s title. At some point, the wardrobe becomes the main character as there’s the anticipation of what fashion trend a character will successfully execute.

While the film succeeds in many areas, it fails to give Princess the main character treatment she deserves. The whole point of the film is for her to find love, and when she eventually finds it in the form of Mawethu, the film ends without an explanation as to whether the two become a couple. The focus on the love lives of the other characters outshines her happy ending.

“Happiness Is” stands out as a celebration of womanhood, especially in the contemporary African society where women are shamed for aging. The film’s major focus on independent women who face relatable struggles is significant as it offers audiences-both within Africa and internationally-a glimpse into a different facet of African life.

In conclusion, “Happiness Is” is a beautifully curated film that provides both entertainment and insight. Its portrayal of strong women and men who are not afraid to be vulnerable, is inspiring and relatable, encouraging audiences to find what happiness truly means to them. The film is one of those rare gems on Netflix that you’ll discover and be glad you didn’t waste your screen time.

“Happiness Is” is still available for streaming on Netflix.

Release Date: October 18, 2024

Runtime: 96 minutes

Streaming Service: Netflix

Director(s): Nthabiseng Mokoena and Naledi Ya Naledi

Cast: Renate Stuurnman, Gail Mabalane, Richard Lukunku, Sivuyile Ngesi, OC Ukeje, Anton David Jeftha, Rosemary Zimu, and Phaphama Nqabeni