The age-old quest for happiness has been at the tip of our tongues since time immemorial. It is a topic that has seemingly been debated for countless generations, but we have never truly found an answer to the profound sense of joy. Filmmakers Nima Soofi and Daniel Irias have traveled the world to find the coveted answer to this mystery of life, and they have beautifully documented their pristine journey in their film entitled “The Author.”
Suffice to say, the film doesn’t necessarily answer the question but presents it to the audience in the most cerebral way possible. It is a film that is rather felt than absolutely understood. It is a film that mirrors the viewer’s perception of themselves through the eyes of its endearing subjects.
“The Author” does not seek to answer the unanswerable. What it simply does is encourage its audience to dig deeper within themselves to find the intrinsic nature of happiness. The film just lets the camera roll and tells various stories of where happiness could potentially bloom, whether it be through the lens of a seedy nightclub, an aspiring athlete born out of nothing, a monk who has seemingly found peace within himself, or a mother who has lost her child through suicide. The film simply shows us that happiness could take many forms, and it could be right under our noses all along.
Nima and Daniel have pieced together a truly remarkable piece of cinema, letting their subjects take the lead and tell their stories in the most genuine way possible. Without a doubt, the film’s cinematography carries much of the weight of its subject matter. It’s as if the camera sways in the most fleeting of ways, much like how happiness can sometimes slip under our fingers.
As it portrays its subjects, “The Author” takes a much more controlled movement with its cinematography, zeroing in on its subjects as they recount their lives for the audience to reflect upon. It is a truly exceptional film that needs to be experienced to be understood. The film gives off a feeling of universal belongingness as it practically tells the audience that happiness can be found within, and the stories are a powerful testament to that fact.
From the very soil of the United States all the way to Bhutan, Bangkok, and many other parts of the world, Nima and Daniel have traveled far and wide to discover the truth behind what makes all of us truly human. “The Author” is a film that is practically required viewing. The film is an introspective delight as it dwells in the fact that there is joy in the stories that we tell. That each chapter in our lives is written by our very hands, and taking the reigns is a form of happiness in itself.
There is much to unpack in this absolute tour-de-force of a film, as it recounts multiple stories of real people, real events, and real emotions. It brings me absolute joy to even talk about the film, and in a way, “The Author” has made me realize that by telling my own story, I am finding the happiness that I’ve been searching for all this time.
