Table of Contents Show
The holiday season can be both stressful and beautiful at the same time; some perceive it as a time to remember loss and grief, whereas others enjoy it as a time to spend with family and celebrate, at least while they can. Everyone has a different story and way in which they celebrate the holiday season. What solidifies the season (besides the food, weather, and music) is cinema and literature. In many respects, lgbtqiax+ centered narratives have become easier to find within fictional works. The number of fictional stories with lesbian or homosexual narratives appears to be increasing every year.
In the world of TV and cinema, it has taken a while for people to adjust, but the number of such narratives grows gradually every year. But one thing I have noticed is that we have not had a genuine or romantic Christmas lesbian love story in… ever? Nothing that stands out in my head that I can remember being openly lesbian like Happiest Season (DuVall; 2020).
A film that is unapologetically homosexual in every way, and it truly has every right to be. The film is created by Clea DuVall, the wonderful writer of the screenplay, as well as the director of the film. (( The screenplay for the film was also partially written by Mary Holland. )). (( Produced by Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner, Wyck Godfrey and Jonathan McCoy serve as executive producers; the film stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen. )).
Happiest Season premieres on November 25th, exclusively on Hulu!
My “Happiest Season” Is Not Meeting The In-Laws During Christmas…
Meeting one’s parents is never easy. One has the pressure of expectations, anxiety, and then there’s the most important thing of all: to dress properly and behave well. Meeting one’s significant other’s parents can be an extremely anxiety-provoking experience, but it can be made more so at Christmastime. The holidays, a time of love and cheer, should not be cut short by a bad “meet-the-parents” experience. But let’s look on the bright side: if it goes well, you can always talk about it at the wedding?
A bonus is a bonus! Granted, not all experiences of introducing partners to the parents are awful, but most tend to be uncomfortable at best. Happiest Season is a lesbian romantic comedy for the holiday season, but really any winter season will do. Happiest Season gives us a heartwarming tale of finding yourself amidst a tangled situation and learning to love someone for who they are and not just what they choose to do or be. (( Such as Abby realizing that Harper coming out is not her fault; it does not show how much she is loved by Harper as well put by John. )).
Falling In Love Is Easy, Staying In Love Is Difficult…
Right from the start, the filmmaking of Happiest Season is a joy; it is bright, charming, and romantic. Dark and foreboding, yet brightened by wit and warmth, the color palette is essential in setting the mood of the film. Without it, I think the film would have a disparate impact. The light touches of humor scattered throughout the film provide contrast to the scenes of such dire tone and that are full of intense emotions. Several times in the movie I smiled at some incredibly poignant scenes, like the sequence where Jane says, “She did not have a secret. She was just an ally,” which was too clever for its own good. It is truly a gift to layer comedy within the moments you are also crying.
It was refreshing to laugh, as in most romance films you don’t willingly laugh, and if you do, it is “cry-laughing.” (( When you are so sad, embarrassed, and can’t get over yourself, so you laugh whilst in mid-cry. )). (( Most of them, furthermore, can be corny and quirky. The jokes don’t always land across the board. )). A huge reason, though, is that they are also hetronormative, so many of the jokes are when girls “trip and fall” into the love interests arms in the middle of NYC. (( That kind of clumsy romance love, which is a niche in and of itself. )) The refreshing element of Happiest Season is that they are already together; we get a glimpse into what makes their relationship them from the very beginning. They are not falling in love. They are already in love.
Happiest Season: Abby
And, yet, there’s more; the shots are absolutely breathtaking in Happiest Season. Many of Abby’s (( Kristen Stewert )) extreme wide yet close frames are so sweet and elegant that you kind of fall in love with Abby as a character. It makes her appear as an archangel, as Riley (( Aubrey Plaza )) asserts,
“she’s a good one.”
It is as if we are meant to see that throughout each shot and frame Abby exists in — the overzealous lighting in the background creates a sense of purity. She’s sweet, sympathetic, and understanding, so if anything, it’s easy to deviate into adoring Abby. Much of it could be Kristen’s own personality, but her character’s timidness is one of the most likable things about the film as a whole. It’s genuine, and, in many ways, you feel undeserving of it. I thought Abby was a likable character that you rooted for.
Happiest Season: Harper + The In-Laws
The dynamic between the in-laws is dysfunctional at its peak, and what family isn’t? It is hilarious to have such an intense family surrounding a complete opposite, such as Abby. The camera feels like it is much of us, the spectator, viewing the family (looking in, such as Abby). The camera acts as an invited family member. In a way, the closest character would be Riley. A bystander who witnesses but doesn’t comment and understands. It feels as it is a reality TV show, and we are watching it unravel, but in the best way?
Harper, an intense counterpart to Abby, exists in an absolutely bonkers family (( don’t we all? )), and so is she in many ways herself. She counteracts Abby’s sweet and tentative side by being quite selfish and latent in many regards. Again, much of it could be the incredible acting in Mackenzie’s regard, but Harper, while completely traumatized by her need for perfection, does realize her own faults at the end of the day. She has incredible character growth in Happiest Season. The character showed growth, and although you get upset at her for doing what she did, it is a side most have been on in many relationships (hetero or homosexual).
Harper’s sisters juxtapose her completely, each having their own implications from the assumptions of their parents. They all work together as a whole; I think Sloane’s final arc is much better than her beginning arc. Jane, however, stole the show. An incredible character who was absolutely hilarious. At the end of the day, I think they all worked together as actresses and characters because they are so drastically different, in the best way.
IN Love With The Directing, And Really Happiest Season As A Whole
The color palette (+ cinematography), as mentioned, is quite elegant. Many of the shots are romantic and sensual in many ways. The shots remind you of a really nice day on the beach, but it’s raining. There is a hint of romance, but at the same time, there’s a lot of emotional baggage, and the shots resemble the motifs present throughout Happiest Season. There is a beautiful tracking shot at the Christmas party that I love, one of my favorite sequences in the film.
The film uses shallow focus in the best way; typically, I don’t enjoy it much, but I liked it in this. It made me pay attention to characters and what they were saying and how that is important: what is being said. The dialogue and acting can be spotty, but it doesn’t take away from the beauty of what Happiest Season is. They are so few and far between that you don’t really notice them. Plus, that could also be very subjective to my own style. I think the biggest win of Happiest Days is that it works on every level.
The performances are phenomenal as a whole, and the trailer entices you, but the film truly gives more, and it’s better than the trailer gives credit for. The directing is breathtakingly gorgeous, and I think it is such a f—king cute movie. Excuse my language. But it is a damn good lesbian rom-com, and I have to be honest.
The romance is there, and it exists in a space where you don’t need to show sex in every scene in order to show a genuine version of love. That being said, showing sex in film is fine, but it is refreshing to watch a film that builds on communication and fixing issues by attempting to talk about them and recognizing them. Having friends that communicate and support you in what you decide to do. It is important to show that.
Should You Watch Happiest Season?
Yes. The movie works, and it works incredibly well. It features a diverse cast, and it is created by someone who identifies as lesbian, and many of the characters also play who they identify as or have at one point (whether that has changed into something more for them personally – such as queer or bisexual or transgender). The movie works because it is genuine, and that is rare.
It feels real because, in many ways, it may be real for the actors playing the part. As John so eloquently states, “everyone’s journey is different.” This could ring true for many who don’t have a voice or see themselves falling in love because of it. Every character plays a vital part in Happiest Season, and I rarely enjoy Christmas movies, but this one I will add to my watch list every season.
