Ani Fanelli (Mila Kunis) has a renowned position at a glossy magazine and is on the hunt for a promotion. Her wedding is just around the corner and she seems to have her whole life in order. Until a crime documentary director approaches her to tell her side of a tragic school shooting that happened when she was a teenager. Though reluctant at first, Ani decides to reveal the truth about the circumstances behind the incident, forcing her to confront secrets that threaten her carefully crafted life.
In addition to Kunis in the cast of Happiest girl in the world are Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Connie Britton, Justine Lupe, Jennifer Beals, Scoot McNairy and more. It is directed by Mike Barker and based on Jessica Knoll’s novel.
Adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s novel
“I read the book and I really enjoyed it. It’s a very important story. I was terrified to get started on it,” admitted Barker, “then I met Jessica… and after I met her and talked to her about it… we really felt a connection… and I really felt that the journey the protagonist is on was fascinating.”
Barker went on to explain that the film is very similar to the book, although they made some structural changes based on the medium of film versus a novel, allowing some things to be said without actually saying it out loud.
“I made sure she was with me the whole time,” Barker said, “she was always at the backstop because you can see the movie tonally, it’s a tricky movie. And so to walk that line, because this is ultimately a movie that is essentially entertaining Mila Kunis has great comedic timing and Jessica has some very comedic lyrics, and yet you still have to deal with very difficult underlying topics.
Mila Kunis in Luckyest Girl Alive
“Mila is not only the actress, she is also a producer on the film… Mila was quite fundamental in the creative process before even appearing on the set. And on set, she’s such an amazing ghost. She’s such a beautiful person, and she has such a great hearing. I think there’s something inherently attractive and watchable about her before she even starts thinking about acting,” Barker said.
When she starts acting, viewers can see her talent shine through, especially when you consider how complicated a role she plays, and she does so with a delicacy that amplifies Barker’s comments.
“It’s a very complicated role,” explains Barker, “because there are two people playing that role. Not only does she play the person in the moment acting opposite another actor, she narrates the movie, so she has to play at the same time. giving a second performance… it’s very complicated for her to do, and she just did it so brilliantly The thing with Ani, the character, she’s kinda prickly, has an attitude, potentially unsympathetic, and I think Mila that navigates in such a beautiful way that she makes her feel incredibly real and makes us want to advocate for her.
Public takeaway from Luckyest Girl Alive
With a film on themes such as Happiest girl in the world does, the audience will definitely feel influenced and derive meaning from it. Barker expected it to make an impact, though he didn’t anticipate it reaching all the demographics it does.
“One of the interesting things, when we were testing the film, was who influenced it the most. You expect it will affect the young women who went through similar experiences or trauma. But actually there were a lot of young guys too. who watched the movie, who actually saw it and thought to themselves, ‘I’ve been in this situation’, with a drunk girlfriend or a boyfriend, someone across the room, I think it hurts them in a pretty profound way “In a way that I don’t think any of us really intended. I’m actually quite pleased and proud of that aspect. Some of the feedback from the younger guys watching this movie has been pretty powerful.”
Happiest girl in the world will be released in select theaters on September 30, 2022, ahead of its streaming release on October 7 on Netflix.