Happiness Is (2009) December 10, 2009

When Andrew Shapter, director of the critically acclaimed documentary 'Before The Music Dies,' decided to explore the myths and truths of the pursuit of happiness in America he did more than create a documentary - he collected wisdom on film. This very wisdom captured by Shapter is entitled 'Happiness Is' and it is a cinematic road trip and journey through history--without boundaries or prejudices--in an attempt to understand what happiness truly is, in the face of what the definition of happiness has become. Shapter and his small team traveled coast-to-coast, speaking to all sorts of Americans they encountered along the way in an attempt to discover what it means to be happy. In addition to examining the phrase "the pursuit of happiness," the film guides us through the eyes of spiritual leaders including the Dalai Lama, philanthropists, scholars, the occasional celebrity (including John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson), and a wide range of happiness "experts" as they describe their experiences and definitions of happiness. One could even consider 'Happiness Is' as a roadmap to happiness.