About this Event
7th House and El Cine are proud to co-present Louis Malle’s …AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS (1986)— an open-hearted work of gentle clarity and deep humanism, driven by a curiosity about the immigrant experience and the many lives that converge within the American story. Decades on, …AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS feels less like a document of its time than a living conversation—one that asks us to listen closely and look more carefully at the richly diverse people whose stories shape the nation. Its resonance carries particular gravity in our current moment marked by renewed hostility, fear, and persecution toward immigrant communities.
Shot on 16mm with Malle’s characteristic cinematic sensitivity, the film unfolds as a people-centered mosaic rather than a thesis-driven documentary. In the mid-1980s, Malle (Elevator to the Gallows, Au Revoir les Enfants)—himself a French transplant living and working in the United States—traveled across the country interviewing recent arrivals forging new lives on American soil. Moving through working- and middle-class communities from coast to coast, he gathers a wide range of voices, approaching each with patience, curiosity, and an uncommon warmth.
Rather than shaping these encounters into a single argument, Malle allows each story to stand in its own complexity. The film finds humor alongside hardship, tenderness alongside uncertainty, capturing the exhilaration of arrival and the disorientation of cultural translation in equal measure. Seen through Malle’s attentive outsider-insider gaze, America emerges as an ever-evolving tapestry—one continually remade by those who come seeking possibility, dignity, and belonging.
In revisiting Malle’s generous portrait of newcomers to the United States, we are reminded that behind every policy, headline, and rhetoric are lived lives: individuals and families navigating hope, displacement, resilience, and the fragile act of building a future in unfamiliar ground. Join us for this moving and quietly urgent work, a compassionate reminder of the many paths that shape the American story, and of the humanity at stake in how those stories are received.
Dir. Louis Malle, 1986, 81 mins, USA, English & Spanish (subtitled), Unrated, Digital.
TICKETS: $10 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
EL CINE
El Cine is a 501-c3 that provides free film education for the community through Latin-focused screenings and conversations. Visit their website for more info and upcoming events!
ADVISORY DISCLAIMER
With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].
CONTENT DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.
ACCESSIBILITY
PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.
REFUND POLICIES
All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.
In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.
PARKING
We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Nearby street parking is available, as well as limited parking onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east).
PRS EVENT POLICIES
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
USD 12.51
