Happiness Is a Four-letter Word

Happiness Is A Four-Letter Word
Directed byThabang Moleya
Written byBusisiwe Ntintili
Produced by
  • Junaid Ahmed
  • Bongiwe Selane
  • Helena Spring
Starring
CinematographyLance Gewer
Edited by
  • Nicholas Costaras
  • Melanie Jankes
  • Golden
Music byMpumi Phillips
Release date
  • 19 February 2016 (2016-02-19) (South Africa)
[1]
Running time
92 minutes
CountrySouth Africa
LanguageEnglish
Box office$728,208[2]

Happiness is a Four-letter Word is a 2016 South African romantic drama film directed by Thabang Moleya and written by Busisiwe Ntintili. Based on the novel of the same name by Nozizwe Cynthia Jele,[3] the film tells the story of three friends trying to find their happiness while maintaining images of success and acceptability.

The film revolves around three women. Glamorous trophy housewife Zaza, played by Khanyi Mbau, seems to be living the new South African dream of money, success, and loving partners. Lawyer and compulsive perfectionist Nandi, played by Mmabatho Montsho, whose life from the outside is perfect, has a great career and forthcoming nuptials, but in reality, she is suffocating. Trendy art gallery owner and serial dater Princess is played by Renate Stuurman. The three friends juggle life's surprising changes as they come to learn that "happiness doesn't come with a manual". The three will have to find out what truly makes each of them happy and then fight to get it in their unique way.

A sequel is currently under development, set to premiere on Netflix later this year.[4]

  1. ^ Admin (19 February 2016). "Happiness is a Four-Letter Word premieres in local cinemas". Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Happiness Is a Four-letter Word". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. ^ Jele, Cynthia (2010). Happiness is a four-letter word (1st ed.). Cape Town: Kwela. ISBN 978-0795702952.
  4. ^ Grater, Tom (23 March 2021). "Netflix Sets Sequel To South African Hit Film 'Happiness Is A Four-Letter Word'". Deadline. Retrieved 31 March 2021.