''B-Happy'' is a 2003 Chilean-Spanish-Venezuelan

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

film directed by

Gonzalo Justiniano Gonzalo Justiniano (born 1955) is a Chilean filmmaker. Select filmography * '' Guerreros pacifistas'' - 1984 * '' La Victoria'' - 1984 * '' Children of the Cold War (Hijos de la guerra fría)'' - 1986 * ''Sussi'' - 1988 * '' Candy or Mint (Calug ...

and written by Justiniano, Sergio Gómez, Daniela Lillo and Fernando Aragón. It stars

Manuela Martelli Manuela Abril Martelli Salamovich (born April 16, 1983) is a Chilean film and television actress and director best known for her roles in the films ''B-Happy'' and '' Machuca''. She starred with the famous Dutch actor Rutger Hauer in the Chilean ...

accompanied by Eduardo Barril, Lorene Prieto, Felipe Ríos and Ricardo Fernández.

Synopsis

Kathy lives with her brother Danilo in a small coastal town in Chile. Her life is marked by the absence of her father, who is serving a sentence for multiple robberies, and by the permanent difficulties she must face. At the

Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Basic science and some introduction to ...

, Kathy meets Chemo, a kind and sensitive boy. Together, they begin an intense relationship of mutual discovery. Meanwhile, Kathy falls into depression due to the increasing loneliness that surrounds her. It will be a painful process, but her strength of spirit and optimism will carry her through.

Cast

The actors participating in this film are: *

as Katty * Eduardo Barril as Radomir * Lorene Prieto as Mercedes * Juan Pablo Sáez as Francisco / Nina * Gloria Laso as Gladis * Ricardo Fernández as Chemo * Juan Falcón as Nélson * Felipe Ríos as Danilo * Gabriela Hernández as Peta * José Martin as Oscar * Sergio Hernández as Franco * Oscar Hernández as Albino * Pedro Vicuña as Tulio * Carmen Gloria Bresky as Flea * Consuelo Edwards as Maira * Sergio Buschmann as Police Officer

Release

''B-Happy'' had its world premiere on September 5, 2003, at the

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals in the world. Founded in 1976, the festival takes place every year in early September. The organi ...

, then it was screened on October 18, 2003, as the opening film of the Valdivia International Film Festival. It was commercially released on January 8, 2004, in Chilean theaters, then screened on February 20, 2004, at the Mexico City International Film Festival.

Reception

Critical reception

On the

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website

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

, 60% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10.

Accolades

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0379176 2003 films 2003 drama films Chilean drama films Spanish drama films Venezuelan drama films 2000s Spanish-language films Films set in Chile Films shot in Chile Films about families Films about depression Films about death 2000s Chilean films 2000s Spanish films