[Movie Review]: Tiong Bahru Social Club

 

Source: Golden Village  

The movie tells the story of a young man, named Ah Bee who is in pursuit of his happiness. He quits his job and left home at aged 30, taking on a new job as a Happiness Agent at Tiong Bahru Social Club, where he will be living his new life. At Tiong Bahru Social Club, they promise a happy neighbourhood with specialised programs and dedicated "Happiness Agents" to look after your needs. It sounds like a really cool and great idea- "A Neighbourhood which focuses on Happiness". But is the idea really feasible?  

Throughout the movie, the concept of happiness is highlighted with a few food for thoughts:

1. Can Happiness be measured? At Tiong Bahru Social Club, the happiness of its members and Agents are measured through Artificial Intelligence. They are then ranked daily by their happiness level and contribution level. This is when happiness became a job's KPI . The happiness agents have to be on their toes to keep within the ranks or risk their positions within the organisation. 

This is a sceptical portrayal of the society's need to measure everything (results-focused) and be the first in everything. But can happiness really be measured and should it be pursued as a goal that everyone need to achieve? (Shouldn't humans have their own rights to their own feelings?)  

What does having a high score even mean? Does having a high score even guarantee you happiness? (Is Happiness an end by itself?) This is a portrayal of how people nowadays like to use material indicators (such as possession of car, house, branded bags etc) to measure happiness. Yet the possession of these material needs do not guarantee happiness. 

2. Can Happiness be replicated? The Tiong Bahru Social Club is alike a school, where Happiness agents 'teach' its members how to be happy by following the 'Happiness Mantra'- a handbook to Happiness. They conduct Happiness classes such as 'Happy Yoga', 'Meditation' and even 'Hugging sessions'. It rides on the concept that happiness can be replicated when their members follow the Happiness Mantra- follow certain steps and you'll be happy!

But is it really true? The Happiness Agents were seen to be uncomfortable and awkward in some of the exercises such as the hugging sessions when they had to hug people they are not even close with, sometimes with the opposite gender. However, no one dared to voice out and they all remained smiley as they go through the exercise.

This seems like a sceptical illustration of how people fear to voice out even when things seem wrong. They would rather accept things as they are and suffer in silence.  

3. Can we really create a Happy Neighbourhood where everyone is happy?

"Living in the happiest neighbourhood where your happiness is guaranteed" sounds like a really good idea. But after watching the movie, I wouldn't want to live there. 

Perhaps there is no perfect person who is always happy or a perfect society where happiness is 'guaranteed'. It's ok that things are not 100% all the time. We do not need to pursue happiness like a KPI and ensure that its always 100%, for happiness is a feeling and feelings are temporary. 

The most important in wellbeing I believe, is to have a courage to step out when we feel that things are wrong, to be brave enough to go against societal beliefs (of what everyone else is thinking and doing) and just be US.