Happiness Is a Four-letter Word

Happiness is a Four-letter Word is a 2016 South African romantic drama film directed by Thabang Moleya and written by Busisiwe Ntintili. Based on the novel of the same name by Nozizwe Cynthia Jele,[3] the film tells the story of three friends trying to find their happiness while maintaining images of success and acceptability.

Happiness Is A Four-Letter Word
Directed byThabang Moleya
Produced by
  • Junaid Ahmed
  • Bongiwe Selane
  • Helena Spring
Written byBusisiwe Ntintili
Starring
Music byMpumi Phillips
CinematographyLance Gewer
Edited by
  • Nicholas Costaras
  • Melanie Jankes
  • Golden
Production
company
Release date
  • February 19, 2016 (2016-02-19) (South Africa)
[1]
Running time
92 minutes
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageEnglish
Box office$728,208[2]

The film revolves around three women. Glamorous trophy housewife Zaza, played by Khanyi Mbau, seems to be living the new South African dream of money, success, and loving partners. Lawyer and compulsive perfectionist Nandi, played by Mmabatho Montsho, whose life from the outside is perfect, has a great career and forthcoming nuptials, but in reality she is suffocating. Trendy art gallery owner and serial dater Princess is played by Renate Stuurman. The three friends juggle life's surprising changes as they come to learn that "happiness doesn't come with a manual". The three will have to find out what truly makes each of them happy and then fight to get it in their unique way.

Plot

Perfectionist Nandi seems to have the new South African dream life within her grasp: being a partner in a major firm, a marriage and the perfect house - but it all goes up in flames a few months before the wedding. With her friends Zaza and Princess, Nandi will have to find out what truly makes her happy and then fight to get it.

Cast
  • Khanyi Mbau as Zaza, glamorous trophy wife and mother of two. She loves everything that shines, call her the Queen of Bling if you may. She delivers shallow remarks such as "Well, shopping relaxes me". Bored with her lonely life, Zaza has an illicit love affair with a married man (Daniel Hadebe), while her inattentive husband (Simo Magwaza) is away on business, because according to Zaza's wisdom having an affair with another married person doesn't really count as cheating.
  • Renate Stuurman as Princess, art gallery owner and serial dater who falls head-over-heels in love with smooth-talking afrocentric artist (Richard Lukunku), the kind of guy your mama warned you about, to a dramatic outcome.
  • Mmabatho Montsho as Nandi, a lawyer and compulsive perfectionist. From the outside she has the perfect life: a doting fiancĂ© (Tongayi Chirisa), great career and forthcoming nuptials. But in reality she is suffocating, because all she ever does is give, while everyone around her takes. Her fiancĂ© comes with baby mama drama, while her overbearing father refuses to see that his little girl is no longer little. She is so concerned with keeping others happy that she can't even answer a simple question like "What do you want?" As if she didn't have enough on her plate, a blast from the past (Chris Attoh) re-enters her life, tempting her to come dance with the devil.
  • Chris Attoh as Chris
  • Emmanuel Castis as Le Roux
  • Tongayi Chirisa as Thomas
  • Richard Lukunku as Leo
  • Stevel Marc as Fabian / Model

Reception

Box office

Happiness is a Four-Letter Word pulled in 45,000 attendees and gross box office receipts of R2 371,782 in its opening three days. It was the best performing film of all new releases, in South Africa, on the weekend of February the 19th, and did better than international releases such as 13 Hours, Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Hail Caesar!, 50 Shades of Black and Trumbo. It was ranked at number 3 on the Top 10 after Deadpool and Vir Altyd. Mario Dos Santos, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Entertainment, said: "The opening weekend's results for the film are simply overwhelming not only from local content perspective but also in comparison to Hollywood content."[4]

Critical response

Happiness Is a Four-letter Word received critical acclaimed from its critics. The movie received a 97% approval rating from Metacritic.

References
  1. Admin (19 February 2016). "Happiness is a Four-Letter Word premieres in local cinemas". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  2. "Happiness Is a Four-letter Word". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. Jele, Cynthia (2010). Happiness is a four-letter word (1st ed.). Cape Town: Kwela. ISBN 978-0795702952.
  4. Citizen, Reporter. "Happiness is a Four-Letter Word does well at box-office". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
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