Agent of Happiness review: While the documentary lacks a solid cut out political commentary, it makes its mark!

In this review, karan_mir aka Karan Mirchandani dwells on the documentary film Agent of Happiness.

How do you quantify happiness? In Bhutan, census workers traverse the foothills to compile data, hoping to confirm what the kingdom tells the world - there's no happier place than Bhutan. The documentary lulls you in with the inherent humour in quantifying such a subjective feeling. There's a repetitive nature to the early parts of it, stitched together by its lively subjects who are full of quips and little gems of life wisdom. The numbers that quantify their happiness are hopeful, the idea that maybe happiness can be viewed numerically. 

But as the numbers make room for conversations, as fewer forms are filled out, the truth spills out. Not in some dramatic turn of events, but almost as if to say that it's impossible to know someone's deepest, darkest secrets on a survey form. What are the things that keep them up at night? The thoughts manifest far away from people and question the noise of the day. At its core, as protagonist Amber Kumar Gurung traverses this terrain, you realise it isn't a journey of collecting data but a circling of a place he feels trapped in. And maybe in these stories, there is solace to be found, not only for us but also for him.

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Agent of Happiness doesn't ever fully dive into the darkness of living conditions in Bhutan. It never gives you a monologue on how this country is only suitable for those who follow the rules and fit the bill. But it shows you things through lived experience, whether it's the trans woman fighting to be accepted, the young daughter who rues a broken home or even Amber, whose quips and self-effacing humour help him cope with the helplessness around his identity. 

But beyond that, a question emerges as all these voices echo through the valley. A question about, is happiness even a worthwhile measure? Is that the true metric used to capture the health of a nation? A fleeting feeling that will indeed be replaced with the flow of the day. What really is happiness? Is a great country where people find high peaks of euphoria or is it one where they are given the platform to decide however they feel and be heard? At the risk of borrowing from Inside Out, maybe there is something more human and fulfilling to share the warts, too. Sadness, loneliness, anxiety, depression—words that capture a wider range of the human experience. It's what makes us fundamentally us. And while none of this is underlined, filmmakers Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó show you the mirror and let you draw your own conclusions. 

A part of me wonders if a clear-cut political statement using the people of Bhutan and their struggles would've packed an even meaner punch for the film. But as a hopeful outlook on the collective experience, Agent of Happiness still accomplishes its goal!

Agents of Happiness had its Indian premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival this year! 

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