Although titled My Joy in its English translation, the literal translation of the title of the movie is “My Happiness”. In the context of the movie, it means its exact opposite. My Joy is a pessimistic look at the territories of the ex-Soviet union, where the value of life is little, and survival is paramount. People, identities and moralities become lost, while selfishness, violence and exploitation thrive. The story takes off with a good-at-heart truck driver on a delivery trip, but soon expands to include the people he encounters, their past and the deteriorating values of the general populace. The film is cold, bleak and humorless; director Sergei Loznitsa does little to pacify his audience. My Joy is an excellent movie but also very distinct. People un-seasoned in experimental or arthouse cinema will find little to appreciate here.
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