The Joy of Things
A felicidade das coisas

View IN-PERSON at The Cinematheque: Friday, Sept 2, 6:30pm

View ONLINE (from anywhere in Canada): August 25 – September 4 (extended to September 11!!)

*Geo-blocked for viewing in Canada only.

During a suffocating heatwave, Paula travels to a remote beach house with her two children and mother. With the dream of creating an idyllic summer vacation, Paula launches into a project to install a large swimming pool on the property, but finds that happiness is not something that can be constructed so easily. Crises both economic and familial loom, and Paula must find a way to pull it all together.

Winner of Best Film by a First-Time Director at the São Paulo International Film Festival

Well-acted and beautifully shot, The Joy of Things brilliantly captures the wonders and pitfalls of a family summer holiday, where often times the pressure to relax and enjoy oneself makes it almost impossible to do so. – VLAFF

Paula é uma mulher de 40 anos, esperando seu terceiro filho, que passa seu tempo entre uma praia pouco atraente e uma casa de veraneio recém-adquirida. Quando seus esforços para construir uma piscina para seus filhos se chocam com problemas financeiros, todas as suas frustrações vêm à tona, afastando-a de seus planos e de sua família.

THAIS FUJINAGA was born in São Paulo. Her short films have received over 60 awards and distinctions in film festivals around the world, including a Special Mention at the Berlinale for L (2011). In addition to the work on her personal projects, she also develops partnerships with other Brazilian filmmakers and was the screenwriter for Where I Grow Old (2017), a feature film by Marília Rocha, which had its world premiere at the IFFR’s Tiger Competition in 2016. The Joy of Things is Thais’ feature film debut.