| B-Happy | |
| Director: | Gonzalo Justiniano |
| Producer: | Carlo Bettin Gonzalo Justiniano |
| Starring: | Manuela Martelli |
| Cinematography: | Andrés Garretón |
| Editing: | Danielle Fillios Guillermo Sánchez |
| Music: | Cuti Aste |
| Studio: | Sahara Films |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | Chile Spain Venezuela |
| Language: | Spanish |
B-Happy is a 2003 Chilean-Spanish-Venezuelan drama film directed by Gonzalo Justiniano and written by Justiniano, Sergio Gómez, Daniela Lillo and Fernando Aragón.[1] It stars Manuela Martelli accompanied by Eduardo Barril, Lorene Prieto, Felipe Ríos and Ricardo Fernández.[2] [3]
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, 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.[4]
The actors participating in this film are:[5] [6]
B-Happy had its world premiere on September 5, 2003, at the Toronto International Film Festival,[7] then it was screened on October 18, 2003, as the opening film of the Valdivia International Film Festival.[8] It was commercially released on January 8, 2004, in Chilean theaters,[9] then screened on February 20, 2004, at the Mexico City International Film Festival.[10]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[11]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Havana New Latin American Film Festival | Second Choral Prize | B-Happy | [12] | |
| Best Actress | Manuela Martelli | ||||
| 2004 | Bolivian Contemporary Film Festival | ||||
| Santo Domingo International Film Festival | |||||
| Best Screenplay | Gonzalo Justiniano, Sergio Gómez, Daniela Lillo & Fernando Aragón | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Andrés Garretón | ||||
| Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema | Festival Cultural Diversity Award | B-Happy | |||
| International Film Festival of Cartagena de Indias | Best Film | [13] | |||
| Best Screenplay | Gonzalo Justiniano, Sergio Gómez, Daniela Lillo & Fernando Aragón | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Lorene Prieto | ||||
| Berlin International Film Festival | CICAE Award - Best Film | B-Happy | [14] | ||
| IFFS-FICC - Special Mention |