“Days of Happiness” (French: “Les Jours heureux”)is a drama film directed by Chloé Robichard in 2023. It is a Canadian production in which Sophie Desmarais plays the main role of Emma, an orchestra conductor from Montreal. Emma has a complex relationship with her father and agent Patrick (played by Sylvain Marcel) who is highly controlling, and while Emma attempts to overcome it, she ‘falls’ in love with an already separated cellist and mother Naëlle (Nour Belkhiria) which leaves Emma considering her further as well as professional decisions.
Awards & Nominations:
- Directors Guild of Canada (2023): Nominated for Best Direction in a Feature Film (Chloé Robichaud).
- Prix Iris (December 8, 2024): Nominated for Best Actress (Sophie Desmarais) and Best Sound (Sylvain Bellemare, Luc Boudrias, François Goupil, Stephen De Oliveira). Wikipedia
Cast & Crew:
- Director & Writer: Chloé Robichaud
- Emma: Sophie Desmarais
- Patrick: Sylvain Marcel
- Naëlle: Nour Belkhiria
- Supporting Cast: Maude Guérin, Vincent Leclerc, Yves Jacques, Katherine Levac IMDb
IMDb Ratings:
As of now, “Days of Happiness” holds an IMDb rating of 6.6/10, based on 308 user ratings.
Personal Insights:
“Days of happiness” captures a beautiful depiction of the life of a woman in the world of classical music while also depicting a roller coaster of relationships that can impact Emma’s life completely. I feel that Sophie Desmarais fit into this role perfectly. She does a fantastic job portraying Emma’s internal conflict as well as her progress throughout the film. However, the film’s development is deliberate and not everybody may enjoy that, but I believe that’s how the character must be explored in detail. The marriage between the music and emma’s emotional state during the orchestral scenes is fantastic.
Cultural Significance:
The movie examines the stereotypes surrounding gay relationships in the classical music culture alongside familial expectations, commitment to superior artistic standards and devotion of women to leadership roles in traditionally male’s spheres. It also elaborates on the imbalance between ambition and personal relationships that every artist has to negotiate. Furthermore, it narrates the real story of how women are still treated in high ranking professions.
The film “Days of Happiness” was released on September 8th, 2023, in Toronto at the international film festival. Canadian cinemas premiered it in… October of the same year.
