Kumu’s new documentary season opens with a film on happiness

Text Ingel Kink
Photo PÖFF

Agent of Happines

The Kumu documentary film series kicks off its new season with a thought-provoking film about the pursuit of happiness. The screening on Wednesday, January 8, at 6 pm. in the Kumu auditorium will be introduced by composer Sven Grünberg.

The opening film, Agent of Happiness, explores Bhutan’s unique approach to measuring contentment through a happiness index, prioritising personal well-being over economic output. The film follows two surveyors as they go door-to-door, asking ordinary Bhutanese citizens about their happiness.

Directed by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó, this humorous yet insightful documentary provides a rare glimpse into Bhutanese life and raises questions about what it takes to be happy. Having been well-received at numerous festivals, it was also a hit at the PÖFF (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival).

Throughout January and February, the series will feature eight documentaries, including Riefenstahl by German director Andres Veiel, Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf by Thomas Piper, and Lewerentz’s Divine Darkness by Sven Blume. The season concludes on February 26 with Life, Assembled by Élodie Degavre.

Admission to all screenings in the series is free of charge.

More information is available on KUMU’s website.

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Agent of Happiness Andres Veiel Arun Bhattarai Dorottya Zurbó KUMU Documentary PÖFF Sven Grünberg