Happiness
Year: 2016
Runtime: 113 mins
Language: Cantonese
Director: Law Yiu-Fai
Following his mother's death, Chan Kai-yuk travels from Guangzhou to Hong Kong seeking the father who left them. Finding him with a new family who views him as a burden, Yuk becomes homeless and is taken in by Auntie Fen, a reclusive woman living a solitary life. Initially, their clashing personalities and Yuk's self-centeredness lead to conflict. However, Yuk discovers Fen is experiencing early-stage Alzheimer’s, prompting a change in him as he becomes a caring friend, and Fen experiences a rare feeling of connection.
Happiness (2016) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview
Get a spoiler-free look at Happiness (2016) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the bustling streets of Hong Kong, a grieving young man arrives from Guangzhou, carrying the weight of his mother’s recent death and a restless quest to find the father who abandoned his family. Stripped of work and a steady roof, he drifts between the city’s neon glare and its hidden alleys, feeling both the anonymity of a megapolis and the lingering pull of unfinished family ties. The mood is quiet and introspective, a portrait of a city that can be both unforgiving and strangely compassionate.
There, he encounters Tse Yuen-fan, a middle‑aged former singer who lives alone in a modest flat, surrounded by the remnants of a once‑vibrant stage life. Her world is marked by routine and a gentle stubbornness, but an early‑stage memory loss begins to blur the edges of her daily existence. Their first meetings are marked by clashing personalities—his restless self‑interest meets her guarded solitude—and a simple gesture, like a dozen eggs, hints at the fragile bridge forming between them.
Against this backdrop, a community centre humming with kindness offers a subtle pulse of hope. The centre’s staff and volunteers, including a compassionate chef, provide a thin thread of stability that gently pulls the two strangers toward a tentative, chosen family. The tone remains tender and unhurried, balancing moments of quiet humor with the understated melancholy of lives in transition. The cityscape itself becomes a character, its crowded markets and quiet corridors reflecting the inner turbulence and quiet resilience of those who navigate its streets.
At its core, the story is a meditation on memory, belonging, and the quiet acts of care that can reshape a life. As Chan Kai-yuk and Tse Yuen-fan learn to navigate each other’s worlds, the film invites viewers to contemplate how unexpected companionship can illuminate the path through loss and uncertainty, offering a subtle, lingering sense of hope amid the ordinary rhythms of urban life.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:54
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Bittersweet found family movies like Happiness
Unlikely connections bring solace and meaning to lives marked by loneliness and hardship.For viewers who enjoyed the emotional journey in Happiness, this section features movies about unlikely friendships and found family. These dramas share a tender, bittersweet tone, focusing on characters finding connection and purpose while navigating personal struggles like illness or displacement.
Narrative Summary
The narrative typically centers on two or more isolated characters, often from different walks of life, whose paths cross unexpectedly. Initial conflict or indifference gives way to a gradual, heartfelt connection as they care for one another. The plot is character-driven, focusing on small, intimate moments that build a powerful emotional bond, culminating in an ending that acknowledges both the beauty of the connection and the pain of the surrounding realities.
Why These Movies?
Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on the redemptive power of platonic love and caregiving. They consistently blend melancholic and hopeful tones, feature slow, contemplative pacing to develop character relationships, and deliver emotionally resonant conclusions that are uplifting yet realistically tinged with sadness.
Movies about urban loneliness and connection similar to Happiness
Quiet character studies set in cities, exploring isolation and the fragile bridges people build.If you liked the intimate setting and themes of urban displacement in Happiness, explore these character-driven dramas. They share a contemplative mood and slow pacing, depicting solitary lives in the city and the rare, meaningful bonds that form against the odds.
Alice in the Cities
1974
Lost in Translation
2003
Mister Lonely
2008
The Outside Story
2021
Intimacy
2001
Distant
2004
Microhabitat
2017
Lost
2005
Sidewalls
2006
T.R. Baskin
1971
Italian Studies
2022
Old Boyfriends
1979
We Couldn't Become Adults
2021
Starting Out in the Evening
2007
Our Souls at Night
2017
Narrative Summary
These narratives are often straightforward and linear, following a character's internal journey as they navigate an alienating urban environment. The conflict is primarily internal or interpersonal, arising from clashing personalities or circumstances. A significant theme is the contrast between the crowded anonymity of the city and the profound intimacy of a newly formed, fragile relationship, often involving themes of aging, memory, or coping with hardship.
Why These Movies?
These films share a specific mood and setting: a melancholic, intimate feel generated by stories of urban solitude. They are united by a slow, deliberate pacing that allows for deep character immersion, a medium emotional weight that feels genuine without being overwhelming, and a focus on the quiet drama of everyday life and human resilience in a metropolitan context.
Unlock the Full Story of Happiness
Don't stop at just watching — explore Happiness in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Happiness is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Happiness Summary
Read a complete plot summary of Happiness, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Happiness Timeline
Track the full timeline of Happiness with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
