The Way to Happiness

Description

Best Foreign Film
Sacramento World Film Festival

Best Feature Film
Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival
New Filmmakers New Orleans

Best Production
Harlem International Film Festival

Official Selection
Boston International Film Festival
Benelux International Film Festival
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival
New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
Detroit Jewish Film Festival
Jewish International Film Festival
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival
Miami Jewish Film Festival
Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival
St. Louis Jewish Film Festival
Mort Skirboll Jewish Film Festival
Palm Beaches Jewish Film Festival
New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival
Wilmington Jewish Film Festival
Charleston Jewish Film Festival
Treasure Coast Jewish Film Festival
Chicago Jewish Film Festival

Trailer

Synopsis

Saül Birnbaum is a “hidden child”, separated from his parents at the age of 6 to escape the upcoming Shoah, sent by a Kindertransport abroad, from Vienna to Brussels. In 1986, Saül is on the road to resilience, he tries to reinvent his life, to re-enchant it. On the stage of the Délicatessen he owns, the 7th Art triumphs every day. With his protégé Joakin, a young Chilean director who fled Pinochet, they decide to write the story of Saül’s childhood and make a film of it. But love comes knocking on his door and confronts him with his past.

Director

After starting as a journalist in the written press, radio and television, Nicolas Steil, producer and director, founded his production company, Iris Productions S.A., in Luxembourg in 1986. As of yet, he has produced or coproduced more than fifty fiction, animation and documentary feature films or international series in French, English, German or Luxemburgish.

When he was working at RTL Radio & Television he directed more than hundred hours of programming: news & current affairs, documentaries and game shows.

He staged five theater plays including the works of Ariel Dorfman,Woody Allen, Carles Battle Jordà and Jean-Louis Schlesser.
His first feature film as a director was Réfractaire (The Undercover War) which he co-wrote and co-produced. The film won several prizes in international film festivals throughout the world and represented Luxembourg in the 2009 Best Foreign Film Academy Award race.

In 2021, he directed his second feature film, The Way to Happiness, depicting the story of hidden child’s resilience. Starring Simon Abkarian, Pascale Arbillot, André Jung, Michel Vuillermoz, Eric Caravaca, Brigitte Fossey, Mathilda May amongst others, the film was selected at this stage at more than thirty internationals festivals winning 6 awards.