Director Mike Leigh Praises Teachers!
By Dorothy Davis
During the Q&A following his delightful new film “Happy-Go-Lucky” at The New York Film Festival, Director Mike Leigh (“Vera Drake,” “Topsy-Turvy,” “Secrets & Lies”) described Poppy Cross, his lead character (played by Sally Hawkins) as a person “who can deal with things in life, looks things in the eye, is open, can tackle things in an extremely grounded, sensible, focused, way. She is a responsible adult citizen who also has a good deal of joy of life and optimism.”
And what is Poppy’s profession? She is a Kindergarten teacher!
“She is a natural born teacher,” said Leigh. “We invented her before we decided she should be a teacher. I realized I was making an anti-miserablist film—in this world of gloom there are people who are getting on with it. You can’t be a teacher unless you are an optimist—it is the future you are caring for!”
“Happy-Go-Lucky” has already opened in New York City. #
