“Maybe, in real life, someone like her would inevitably become the victim of a strangling at the hands of a friend, family member, or fed-up passerby. But I want to believe in someone like her. I want to believe life can be approached from such an uncompromisingly joyous perspective.”  MaryAnn Johanson - the Flick Filosopher

“Frivolity is used as a tool to unmask anger and Leigh's mastery has never been more apparent than in the creation of his richly layered characters”  Louise Keller - Urban Cinefile 

In a complete change of tone for Mike Leigh Happy-Go-Lucky shows us a different way of coping with the anger that life in the twenty first century often provokes.  Be happy is the message, and it is a tribute to the magical performance by Sally Hawkins at the centre of the film that we grow to love her, not hate her as could so easily have happened.

Learn to love life and your fellow humans.  Share the joy.  Enjoy the difference of an upbeat Mike Leigh and an optimistic approach to the sadness and anger of life.

Best Actress, Sally Hawkins - Berlin 2008, Golden Globe Awards