He heads first to China where he meets and hangs out with Edward, a wealthy banker played by Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard and he also meets Ying Li, a beautiful young Chinese woman, played by Chinese actress Ming Zhao, (she's a soap opera actress in her first feature film role).
His travel leads him to a Buddhist monastery. From there, he travels to Africa where he assists his college friend Michael at a clinic. Then he goes to California where he sees his old girlfriend from college.
Throughout his journey he keeps notes in his journal.
Here are the main points related to happiness that he writes in his journal:
1. Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.
2. A lot of people thinking happiness means being richer or more important.
3. Many people only see happiness in their future.
4. Happiness could be the freedom to love more than one woman at the same time.
5. Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.
6. Avoiding unhappiness...is not the road to happiness.
7. Does this person predominantly bring you a) up or b) down?
8. Happiness is answering your calling.
9. Happiness is being loved for who you are.
10. Sweet potato stew!
11. Fear is an impediment to happiness.
12. Happiness is feeling completely alive.
13. Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.
14. Listening is loving.
15. Nostalgia is not what it used to be.
There are some interesting characters played by a variety of actors. French actor Jean Reno plays Diego. German actress Veronica Ferres plays psychic Anjali who is one of Hector's clients. Toni Collette plays Agnes, Hector's ex-girlfriend from college. Canadian actor Christopher Plummer plays Professor Coreman.
This film is entertaining and thought-provoking. You'll laugh and cry!
Some quotes from this film:
"But I want a penis."---French woman to Hector at a party
"If you're going to do it, Hector, do it totally."---Clara
"Let me show you happy."---Edward
"Whoever said money can't buy happiness. Fuck you!"---Edward
"We're addicted, divorced, dead. What the hell.---Edward
"It's how much you pay who you know."---Doorman at Chinese club
"Oh Hector. The difference between those three ladies and me is that there's no shame in how they make their money. They can show their faces back home. I can't."---Ying Li
"If you look at this plane, you'll notice it's quite old. That means it's never crashed before. Should be quite reassuring."---African female passenger
"Forgive me but if your happiness causes other people's' unhappiness, then how can that be happiness?"---Hector
"What's in it for you?"---Diego
"You're in it for yourself, like everyone else."---Diego
"I bet what I farm makes more people happy than the crap you dish out."---Diego
"If you want to be happy, take care of your own."---Diego
"Excuse me. Excuse me. Take off your IPod. There's a lion really close by."---Hector
"I sometimes feel like psychiatry comes with affluence. You know, the richer the city, the more psychiatrists there are per square mile. What does that tell you?"---Hector
"The mind can hurt as much as the body."---Marcel
"Keep-It-Handy Travel Candy. Nice."---Hector
"It says that the evil you do in this life could cost your happiness in the next."---Hector
"People who are afraid of death are afraid of life."---Jamilla
"Hector wants to know the secret to a happy marriage."--Agnes
"Putting away your socks. Before taking care of every other aspect of your life."---Clara
"You're emotionally squeamish."---Agnes to Hector
"Everything in this world is going up but happiness is going down.---Professor Coreman
"The more we focus on our own personal happiness, the more it eludes us....We should concern ourselves not so much with the pursuit of happiness but the happiness of pursuit."---Professor Coreman
Some facts about this film:
The London parts were filmed in Vancouver, Canada.
It was filmed in Canada, China, South Africa, and America.
The story takes place on four continents: Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Some of the funding came from Telefilm Canada.
The director was Peter Chelsom.
This film incorporates live action, simple props and animation.
Some scenes from this film:
Here's the official trailer for this film:
