Happiness in a Box

In a world turned upside down, a few life-affirming documentaries can ready us for the coming new year

By Meg Weichman | Jan. 1, 2022

New year, new you. That’s the old adage, right? Well, how about this year it’s new year, new world — or new circumstances, or new human condition? Maybe after going through nearly two years of “unprecedented times” it’s not you that needs to change, it’s everything else.

Nevertheless, the start of a new year does still give us reason to pause and look to the future. And in a time when it can be difficult to face another year with a hopeful mindset, it’s easy to simply escape into the fictitious worlds of superheroes and musicals and fantasy. Yet documentary film, which is perhaps unfairly maligned as a depressing reminder of all that is wrong with the world, also offers a powerful balm for our malaise.  

Because for every film that documents another terrible injustice or crisis or systemic issue we feel powerless to address, there is also a documentary that reminds us of the beauty, wonder, passion, and joy that the world holds, offering stark evidence that maybe things aren't quite as bad as we thought. Here are some films that strive to do just that.

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD
Death. It doesn’t get much worse than that. But in Dick Johnson Is Dead, director Kirsten Johnson (who has filmed more than her share of deadly serious and distressing docs) turns the camera on herself and her beloved father as she tries to make sense of the impending inevitability of his death, and the result is delightfully life-affirming. Told with surreal and goofy humor to exuberant and heartfelt effect, the film’s very existence is a profound act of love that reminds us to appreciate those close to us while they are around. Streaming on Netflix.

MAN ON WIRE (pictured above)
Any movie can tell an inspiring story. Any movie can offer death-defying thrills from the safety of special effects. But Man on Wire is something else. A real-life heist movie that chronicles one of the most audacious acts of the 20th century, the story of Philippe Petit’s daring (and illegal) tightrope walk is poetry in motion. It’s the magic of seeing a dream realized and the power of witnessing nothing less than an actual human miracle. Streaming on Amazon Prime.

MARWENCOL
A hobby can be an important way to cope (especially if you resist the urge to try and monetize it), and in no movie is that more affectingly portrayed than in Marwencol. Following a brutal attack that left Mark Hogancamp with brain damage and without the resources to seek professional help, Mark found his own source of therapy in his backyard building a miniature WWII era-town and capturing the scenes he created with his camera. Tender and moving, this intimate character study is an exhilarating story at how art can help us survive. Streaming on Kanopy. (Access it through TADL.org.)

BEST WORST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED
Still reeling from the loss of the master of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim? Then consider this doc a nifty double-hander that not only celebrates his genius but also buoys broken spirits. Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened revisits one of Sondheim’s most notorious flops, 1981’s Merrily We Roll Along. But out of the ruins of the show’s ashes emerges a surprising story that is genuinely gladdening, finding beauty in disappointment and failure. Streaming on Netflix.

FACES PLACES
What do you get when a French filmmaking legend in her 80s (Agnes Varda) and an enigmatic graffiti artist in his 30s team up to drive around France and encourage villager to make art? Pure joy. That’s what you get: pure joy. Uncovering the humanity and enchantment in everyone and everything they encounter, this Oscar nominee for Best Documentary is a heartwarming look at friendship, community, and creation. Streaming on Kanopy and Tubi.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
While the easy just “Be Kind’ rhetoric is often more harmful than helpful in this day and age (kindness is no longer enough), that cynicism doesn’t apply when it comes to the quiet heroism and sincere goodness of Fred Rogers. Tracing the life, work, and incalculable legacy of the man behind Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? isn’t just a documentary, it’s a chance to be washed clean of the anguish of modern adult life, and an invitation to become the person Mister Rogers thought you could be. It’s such a good feeling. Streaming on HBO Max.

OUR PLANET
Showing us the beauty of the world in a very literal sense, Our Planet’s spectacularly awe-inspiring vision of the place we call home, also offers metaphorical insight into the human experience. Narrated by David Attenborough, the docuseries doesn’t shy away from the ongoing threats to the natural world, which makes the extraordinary wonders it explores all the more deeply felt and vital. More things than you think can be fixed by simply stepping outside and taking a walk. Streaming on Netflix.

HAPPY
Seeking a more literal approach finding happiness in the new year? The documentary Happy is just the ticket. Director Roko Belic travels the world, meeting people from all walks of life and across over 14 different countries, from a rickshaw driver in Kolkatta to a Cajun fisherman in the US, who share their stories of contentment. Your mileage may vary as to what you get out of its lessons on the science of positive psychology, but meeting and hearing from so many happy people, may perhaps offer a fleeting contact high. Streaming on Kanopy and Tubi.

TONY ROBBINS: I AM NOT YOUR GURU
Still thinking you’re part of the problem and that you do in fact need to change? Well, Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru gives you an all-access pass to the self-help superstar’s annual “Date with Destiny” seminar.  At it’s best, this is compelling portrait of event logistics that can affirm doubters of charismatic motivational speakers they don’t need this kind of introspective help (therapy is always a great option!)). And even for those who are interested in giving themselves over to this kind of experience, it can save you from spending the substantial amount of money that is required to attend such meetings. Streaming on Netflix.

STOP MAKING SENSE
And if all else fails, and nothing seems to be able to lift your spirits, you can always put on Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads concert documentary and be transported to a state of bliss, if only for 88 minutes. Nothing can top the unstoppable, tireless joy of David Byrne and company singing and dancing their hearts out. Stop Making Sense makes everything better. It just does. Streaming on Amazon Prime.