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Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

R  |   |  Adventure, Comedy, Drama  |  14 August 2014 (Germany)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 22,826 users   Metascore: 29/100
Reviews: 77 user | 113 critic | 28 from Metacritic.com

A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.

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(screenplay), (screenplay), 2 more credits »
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2 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Pathetic Jane
...
Diego Baresco
...
Anjali
...
Michael
...
Ying Li
...
Old Monk
...
Professor Coreman
Bruce Fontaine ...
Malcolm
...
Alan
Bernard Cuffling ...
Professor Niedorf
...
...
Roger
Dean Paul Gibson ...
Joyless Husband
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Storyline

A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The best part of life is living it. See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some brief nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| | |

Language:

| |

Release Date:

14 August 2014 (Germany)  »

Also Known As:

Hector e a Procura da Felicidade  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$40,847 (USA) (19 September 2014)

Gross:

$1,121,961 (USA) (12 December 2014)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Dan Mangan:  When Professor Coreman is giving in his lecture and the camera pans across the audience, Dan Mangan, who wrote and performed much of the soundtrack, is sitting in the front row, just stage left of the aisle. See more »

Goofs

Hector's journey into work at the very beginning of the film is geographical chaos. Initially it shows him in the City of London (north of the Thames) on Paternoster Square, then he's immediately crossing the Millennium Bridge south to north, heading again into the City. His office is shown in the shadow of the Shard (south of the Thames) and then when he's picked up from work by his gf, he's once again in the City. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Hector: [waking suddenly from a nightmare] Clara!
Clara: Hector... Morning, sweetheart. Time to raise and shine.
Hector: [narrating] One upon a time, there was a young psychiatrist called Hector, who had a very satisfactory life. His world was tidy, uncomplicated. And he liked it that way. He took great comfort in its predictable patterns. Patterns his girl friend Clara was happy to maintain.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Projector: Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

Vessel
Written by Dan Mangan, Gordon Grdina, Kenton Loewen and John Walsh
Performed by 'Dan Mangan' featuring Dave Grohl
Published by Dan Mangan Music (SOCAN)
See more »

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User Reviews

 
I loved this film.
4 October 2014 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

In the mood for a film, I stopped by the local art house cinema this afternoon. Of the films on offer, this looked like it might be good, though I didn't know too much about what it was about, and really didn't expect much.

Turned out to be a great film. Funny, poignant, and inspiring all at once. Simon Pegg is terrific as a psychiatrist who experiences a sort of existential crisis, and decides to disrupt his tidy, organize, and predictable life to search for the makings of Happiness. His research produces a collection of Buddhist-like conclusions about what may or may not lead to happiness. Along the way, Pegg's character, Hector, begins to 'live', and we the viewer, if we're paying attention, gain some philosophical insights.

The more I think about this film, the more layers of meaning and nuance I realize were lurking beneath the surface of this thoroughly delightful movie. I left the cinema feeling introspective, inspired, and ...Happy. I was moved to indulge in some of the little things that make me happy: a few bars of Amedei chocolate, a meander through the arboretum, a book of poetry; as well as moved to examine what things in my life lead to happiness, and what things lead to unhappiness.

This is a film I would like to see again, and will likely purchase for my movie library.


36 of 53 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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