IMDb 7.8 1963 HD

The Lovely Month of May

The Lovely Month of May

1963
Documentary
165 min NR France
8 / 10
7.8 IMDB

Candid interviews of ordinary people on the meaning of happiness, an often amorphous and inarticulable notion that evokes more basic and fundamentally egalitarian ideals of self-betterment, prosperity, tolerance,…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Chris Marker / Pierre Grunstein / Pierre Lhomme
Starring
Yves Montand / Chris Marker / Jean-Luc Godard / Anna Karina / Edgar Morin / Alain Resnais / Jacques Rivette / Jean Rouch

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

thought-provoking candid reflective earnest egalitarian insightful grounded humanistic philosophical simple profound timeless

Reviews

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This 1963 documentary, 'The Lovely Month of May,' is a beautifully simple yet profound meditation on happiness. By focusing on the unvarnished thoughts of ordinary people, the film uncovers a shared desire for fundamental ideals: prosperity, freedom, and…

C
Cyrus Thorne
May 26, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'The Lovely Month of May,' we are presented with a fascinating, if somewhat diffuse, inquiry into what constitutes happiness. The film’s candid interviews with a range of individuals form its core, highlighting aspirations for self-improvement and economic…

B
Beatrice Ainsworth
May 26, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'The Lovely Month of May' is a gem of observational cinema, capturing the pulse of ordinary lives in 1963. Its exploration of happiness is profound precisely because it is so accessible, grounded in the fundamental desires for prosperity,…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 26, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Exploring the amorphous notion of happiness, 'The Lovely Month of May' presents a collection of candid conversations that are both thought-provoking and occasionally poignant. The film's strength lies in its commitment to showcasing ordinary people's ideals – self-betterment,…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This 1963 documentary, 'The Lovely Month of May,' offers a refreshingly unvarnished look at the elusive concept of happiness. Through candid interviews with everyday individuals, the film eschews grand pronouncements for a more grounded, egalitarian perspective. The tone…

FAQs

Its uniqueness stems from its direct engagement with ordinary people, eschewing expert pronouncements for authentic voices. The film's focus on the deeply personal and often egalitarian interpretations of happiness, rather than a singular philosophical treatise, makes it relatable. By presenting a mosaic of individual aspirations for betterment, prosperity, and freedom, it offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on a universal human quest.