‘My Name is Happy’ tells the inspirational story of a Kurdish teenager, Mutlu Kaya, from a remote community in Southeast Turkey. Aged 19, stardom beckoned when she reached the finals of Turkey’s Got Talent. Days later she was shot by a man trying to abduct her. Mutlu survived, but with life-changing injuries and a bullet in her brain. 5 years later, still recovering, the reality of escalating attacks on Turkish women intrudes: her carer & sister Dilek is killed by her boyfriend, and a neighbour is murdered by her fiance. Despite her life changing injuries, Mutlu relentlessly pursues justice for her sister, supported by her ever-present family: mother Hanim, elder sister Songul & brother Hakan. She depends on them to eat, to walk, to wash. Evoking the story of Mallalah, Mutlu turns to Tik-Tok and her 1.5 million followers to rally support, and asserts her independence by writing a passionate, personal protest song. The film ends by celebrating Mutlu's determination, as she finally records again.
