Portal:African cinema/Page to screen/11
Happiness is a Four-Letter Word is a 2016 South African romantic drama film directed by Thabang Moyela and written by Busisiwe Ntintili based on a novel of the same name by Nozizwe Cynthia Jele. The novel won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book, Africa Region and the M-Net film prize at the 2011 M-Net Literary Awards. It revolves around three women: Zaza (Khanyi Mbau), a glamourous trophy wife; Nandi (Mmabatho Montsho), a successful lawyer; and Princess (Renate Stuurman), an art gallery owner – as they navigate the complexities of happiness and societal expectations. The film was a box office success, and a sequel titled Happiness Ever After was released on Netflix in 2021.