Directed by Louis Malle
The immigrant is deftly covered and detailed in Louis Malle’s … And The Pursuit of Happiness, a brisk documentary featuring immigrants to the US originating from across the globe. Spread all over the country, their destinies are diverse but their impetus for setting out the same: a better life.
We talk to electrical engineers, acting coaches, entrepreneurs, astronauts, and hoteliers who used to be freedom fighters, refugees, and teachers, but now have made the most of the chances offered them. All of their current fortune came about from hard work, and while Malle doesn’t press for details, you don’t doubt the endless hours of toil that lie behind achieving the American dream of a car, a house, a yard, and enough money to support a whole family.
Yet, Pursuit of Happiness is a touching watch first and foremost, because Malle’s subjects shine with pride in how far they’ve come and a love for their adopted nation. Many admit to missing their country of origin, but there’s a common belief that they made the right decision in coming. You sense the satisfaction, the drive and enthusiasm for their situation, and it does make you feel a bit of pride on their behalf too.
You do, however, sense a little survivorship bias given how Malle’s subjects are all doing fairly well. Social issues surrounding immigrants, like being paid exploitative wages, being caught up in the petty schemes of local politicians, or experiencing racism, are touched upon, but they’re more footnotes in a wider narrative of success.
Those caught up in the gears of capitalism do have their say, speaking from dilapidated housing projects or makeshift encampments, but even these segments take heart in the compassion, community, and optimism exhibited by those caught on the downside of advantage. Even with these instances of life’s shadow included, the emphasis remains on those seated comfortably in their suburban homes or business offices, having risen above it all.
Malle has time for the insightful and comical, too. An introductory English class sees immigrants join together to learn how to say “Let’s go to Wendy’s and have a hamburger,” and Malle narrates an elementary school setting, telling us 17 nationalities are found in this classroom where a US history class is being taught by a woman born in the Philippines. It’s a beautiful and pithy summation of the U.S.
Pursuit of Happiness is pushing 40, and you wonder how it’d play out today. The impression you get from the media and anecdotes is that the American dream is lost to even the White middle class, so you can only ponder the odds for those who arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. One of Malle’s subjects recounts a career path that went from dishwasher to cab driver to working in finance before moving to electronics. Had he landed in 2024 you might think that journey would have stalled out at those initial jobs.
But that’s just grim prognostication on my part! What’s in front of you with Pursuit of Happiness is an enthusiastic encounter with dreamers who made it real in a new country far from everything they know. Malle, an immigrant himself, isn’t coy about the affection he has for his peers, and the resulting experience is a celebration of what is on the whole a success story, but also to some extent the place that made it possible, warts and all.
Mikkel Frederiksen 