Joy Levine lives in an old apartment that, in complete contrast to her, is shabby and worn-out on the outside while well-kept and filled with joy on the inside. Her life changes when she auditions for a TV show called "Gotta Be Happy". To her astonishment, she is chosen, and her mission is to throw a surprise party for her parents on the upcoming show. However, there is a price to pay for all this: she has to let the viewers into her private inner world and share with them an event that has been overshadowing her family's life and hers for the past 22 years; an event that made a tight-knit bunch of friends shun her parents, Chaya and Yitzhak Levine.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
5 people
Julie Shles Director · Omer Tadmor Writer
United States release December 20, 2005 · Produced in Israel · Original title מוכרחים להיות שמח
Production
Israel
Produced in
Languages
Original title
מוכרחים להיות שמח
Original language
Hebrew
Spoken on screen
Hebrew
Release dates
Israel · December 1, 2005
Theatrical
United States · December 20, 2005
Theatrical
More from Julie Shles
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Joy
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.