Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times parents guide

Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times Parent Guide

The advice on finding happiness isn't new but it gains added depth and relevance from the context.

Overall B

CIFF: This documentary tries to understand happiness by talking to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Release date September 23, 2021

Violence C
Sexual Content A
Profanity A-
Substance Use A

Why is Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times rated Not Rated? The MPAA rated Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times Not Rated

Run Time: 90 minutes

Parent Movie Review

In 2015, Archbishop Desmond Tutu traveled to Dharamsala, India to visit his old friend, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at his private residence. Footage of this meeting was not released to the public until now. Over five days, Doug Abrams interviewed these two faith leaders on the topic of joy, especially in light of the suffering they have both endured. Mission Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times presents these interviews, along with conversations with scientific experts in the field of neuroscience, to try to unlock both the philosophy and science behind finding happiness.

I don’t think that the messages that Mission Joy conveys are new or groundbreaking. If you have ever read a book on the subject, gone to therapy, taken a psychology class, practiced mindfulness or meditation, or have any knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, you’ve probably already heard these ideas before. Turning our attention outward, performing acts of kindness for others, reframing our perspective, and learning to regulate our emotions are all straightforward concepts. Though I don’t feel like I learned anything new from this film in that regard, I did find framing this information around the experiences of the Archbishop and the Dalai Lama to be powerful. Both men bring decades of wisdom and leadership to the table, and although both have suffered greatly, they are so joyful and humorous together that you can’t help but laugh at their antics.

The main content concern for this documentary is violence. Archival footage is shown of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the struggle against, and eventual fall of, the apartheid government in South Africa. These clips show gun violence, police brutality, rioting, and dead bodies. Although none of it is gratuitous and is all very deliberately chosen to highlight the stories of the two men, the level of violence is above what most parents would be comfortable showing their young children, though I doubt children would be interested in the subject matter in the first place anyway. That said, for teens and adults I think this documentary is a beautiful depiction of the lives of two instrumental leaders, and a reminder of the beauty in humanity, a reminder I think we all need right now.

Directed by Louie Psihoyos, Peggy Callahan. Starring His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Doug Abrams. Running time: 90 minutes. Theatrical release September 23, 2021. Updated

Watch the trailer for Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times

Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times
Rating & Content Info

Why is Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times rated Not Rated? Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence: There is archival footage of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the fight against apartheid, including the use of guns, police brutality, rioting, and dead bodies. There is a description of domestic violence with accompanying animated representation, though the animation cuts away before the actual act.

Sexual Content: There is a brief joke about monks abstaining from sex.

Profanity: There are two mild expletives.

Alcohol / Drug Use: None.

 

Page last updated

Mission Joy: Finding Happiness in Troubled Times Parents' Guide

What are some ways that Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama suggest for finding happiness? What are ways that we could implement some of their ideas into our family and as individuals?

Home Video

Related home video titles:

The fight against apartheid is shown in the biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Although he does not appear in the film, Desmond Tutu was involved in the downfall of the apartheid regime.

Tibet is also the featured locale for Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet.

Two devout religious men also have frequent conversations about duty and the will of God in The Two Popes.