It seems that these days there is no shortage of lo-fi, independent, mumblecore-esque films making the film festival circuit, and admittedly, The Happy Poet is another addition to the canon, albeit a rather welcome one. The story follows Bill, a jobless poetry major (played to perfection by Paul Gordon who also wrote and directed the project), who purchases a hot dog stand and converts it into an "all-organic almost-all-vegetarian" food caravan. Bill is a charming character who truly exemplifies the movie through his ironic, monotonous charm. The Poet is a simple and humble little film filled with good natured, light hearted, indie fun. It contains all the qualifications of a quirky independent comedy: just the right amount of awkward silence, and some (not too much) awkward romance, and enough giggles to keep you smiling. At times the movie will even surprise you with some loud laughs. The dry humour is executed with deadpan delivery and a certain quiet wit, and is often quite hilarious.
But where this movie truly stands apart from it's contemporaries is in it's sincerity. Through and through it is sincere, even throughout the duration of the long shots of awkward emotional insecurity, or boredom, it is true to itself, and that is what makes it such a joy to behold. The Happy Poet is not a "feel good" movie per say, but it is inspiring, funny, and dare I say it, cute. But the kind of cute that we all secretly like, not that fluffy kind. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of substance to this movie. It takes a playful jab at consumerism, idealism, and even the state of independent film itself, but the beauty in this movie is that it can be applied to almost anything, and it works on it's own as a warm, kind, piece of art. This year's lineup is very diverse, and as always, features some very ominous content. Amidst the dark, the gruelling, and the grotesque, The Happy Poet is a sweet little break. Light, charming, and fun.
You can catch The Happy Poet at the Eau Claire Market Cineplex Odeon on both Friday, September 24th at 9:15 PM and Sunday, September 26th at 2:30 PM
Tickets are available through the festival website (www.calgaryfilm.com) and can also be purchased at the festival headquarters, also found within the Eau Claire Market Mall.
