Have you ever seen the film ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’?

My computer doesn’t like me spelling ‘happyness’ like that. There’s a red zigzag line under it and autocorrect is having an opinion. It wants me to spell it with an ‘I’. More on that later.

This, somewhat improbably named, film is based on the true story of a single father who, determined to create a better life for his son, undertakes an unpaid internship to become a stockbroker. Even when the family are made homeless he must turn up to work in clean smart clothes. Discrimination is rife. They correspond to no stereotype. Support is limited and barely accessible. The day-care facility is so bad the teacher writes about the importance of ‘happyness’.

A sizeable chunk of screen-time is spent with Chris trying to find the safest places to spend the night while attempting to safeguard his son’s childhood by making it all seem like one glorious adventure. For little Christopher things are simpler. As long as daddy is there all is well. Although there is, of course, the occasional tantrum, angry outburst and frustrated word – and that’s just the father! They are often dependent on the kindness of strangers.

At one point, when Chris is at his most desperate and trying to find a safe place to spend the night, his son Christopher tells him the following story:

“A ship wrecked man prays to God to save him. A boat approaches, but the man tells it to go away because God will save him. The boat leaves.

Later a second boat arrives, and the man sends it away, saying God will save him. A third boat comes and he does the same.

The man dies.

When he gets to heaven, he complains to God for not saving him when he prayed. God tells the man he sent three boats but the man sent them away.”

That’s not quite how little Christopher tells it! You might well have heard different versions but the basic premise that, if we choose to look, God can be found in unexpected places remains true. Without revealing too much of the film’s end I can say that seemingly small events and decisions have huge implications as the story develops and by the time the end comes it is possible to look back and see the golden thread that runs from beginning to end.

Ultimately the fates of many of the characters are bound together, just like any other community.

The more I think about the title of this film the more I find myself wondering: is there really an ‘I’ in ‘happyness’ at all?

Love and blessings,

Laura