Happiness Sucks (2019): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2019, Happiness Sucks is a comedy and drama film directed by Anca Miruna Lazarescu, running about 96 minutes.

What it’s about. Stefan Gabriel is an active father always looking at life positively. While he tries to give back to society, his daughters Jessica (12) and Sabrina (15) struggle with their own problems. Jessica is often mistaken for a boy and has to deal with her many ticks. She would happily swap places with Sabrina, who, despite her illness, appears to have her life completely under control. But the more Sabrina’s health worsens, the worse Jessica’s ticks become. The girls need a plan and fast. They come across a special ritual in an old book, which could be their rescue. But the girls first have to find a boy to sleep with Sabrina. They don’t have much time left and Jessica puts all she has got into implementing the life-saving plan, no matter how crazy it may be.

Who’s in it. Happiness Sucks stars Martin Wuttke as Stefan Gabriel, Tina Ruland as Melanie Kranz, Christian Friedel as Dr. Wolfgang Teuter and Sophie Rois as Renate Gems, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.8/10, Happiness Sucks has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Happiness Sucks page.

If you liked it. Fans of Happiness Sucks tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.