The Definition of Happiness doesn’t pretend there’s a single answer to the question at its center, and that’s precisely what makes it so effective. Elwin instead gives us plenty to think about, leaving us to consider our own definition of happiness—and perhaps discover that the answer isn’t quite as simple as we thought.
by Nav Qateel
Australian filmmaker and documentarian Tim Elwin asks the question, “What is the definition of happiness?” by interviewing a number of subjects in the U.S. and his native Australia. Depending on who Elwin talks to, the answers to this age-old question are different, yet share a similarity that is instantly relatable.
“Money” would be my number one out of the three choices Elwin asks of each subject, yet I was surprised that it wasn’t in everyone’s selection.
Quadruple-amputee Tom Nash informs us that his three sources of happiness are function, friends, and food, while the Naked Cowboy of Times Square fame explains that his three sources are freedom, money, and independence.
Dr. Wallace Nichols, author of The Blue Mind, explains that we are each seeking a dopamine hit, which can come at us from any number of things. Dr. Nichols’ book is about how water helps us get into a certain state of mind where we can relax better in today’s overstimulated world.
Like all of the experts Elwin interviews, he adds something interesting to the documentary, giving me so much more to consider on this subject.
Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California has a fascinating take on what people are generally looking for as they strive for happiness, and as she explains, while folks with good looks and wealth tend to be happier, it’s in the pursuit of these goals that one can be the happiest.
This is an interesting idea that I had never really considered, and this is precisely the point of Elwin’s documentary: to make us reexamine just what makes us happy and look more closely at why these things make us so.
Elwin has chosen a subject to examine that I feel would scare most people from even trying. It’s a question that doesn’t have an easy answer and differs from person to person, obviously.
Admittedly, as I sat down to watch The Definition of Happiness, I had initially decided that the answer would be fairly simple, yet it didn’t take me long to realise that the answer wasn’t “money,” as I had ignorantly assumed. Life is extremely complex, and each person’s individual needs are unique to them.
Elwin has crafted a fascinating documentary that forced me to really take a look at my life and expectations, and how I look at those less fortunate than myself.
This is a film that you didn’t realise you needed to watch, and once you do, you’ll feel all the better for it.
A must-see!
Nav’s Score: 9/10
