Happy Birthday hit me harder than any film I’ve seen at Tribeca.
Directed by Sarah Goher, Happy Birthday follows Toha (Doha Ramadan), an 8-year-old maid who tries to help prepare a birthday party for her best friend, her employer’s daughter. Goher expertly explores classism and economic inequality through Toha’s eyes, humanizing these political issues by naturally tying them into Toha’s narrative. The stress and determination of Toha’s quest highlight how she’s seen differently because of her class without being pitied. Every seemingly casual moment is given extra weight and implication, built on top of the overall cast’s stellar performances. Doha Ramadan’s performance as Toha, in particular, is stellar; she carries the film with tremendous grace, humor, and passion. She’s a shining star radiating the film’s heart.
As we gradually learn about Toha’s family and their relationship with her employer, we can see how their society naturally reinforces the class divide. Goher doesn’t bog us down in exposition; we’re given just enough detail to infer anxieties and relationships without slowly losing track of Toha’s journey. Every character has a history, and it’s easy to see how the culture molded their lives. Rather than beat you over the head with tragedy, Goher elects to maintain a heartfelt earnestness that gives Toha’s journey extra weight; all the while, you can infer how classism influences their personal decisions.
Happy Birthday is a relatable and passionate film with some of the strongest direction and performances out of Tribeca. It’s impossible not to be enraptured by Goher’s story as she shows how every aspect of relationships, career goals, and trauma is affected by class. Goher takes a look, a glance, a single word, and imbues tremendous meaning and power. I’m certain everyone will find something to love in this film.
Happy Birthday is having its final screening at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday June 14th. You can buy tickets here.