A rising musical-theatre star before his transition, Z (Breton Lalama) has to figure out how to sing in his new register in order to return to the thing he loves most — and, in the process, integrate his past and present selves.
Before he transitioned, Z (Breton Lalama) was a rising star in Toronto’s musical-theatre scene; his Éponine in Les Misérables is still the stuff of local legend. But now, with testosterone injections affecting his voice, Z must figure out how to sing in his new register in order to return to the thing he loves most — and, in the process, integrate his past and present selves.
With the encouragement of his partner Danielle (Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah), Z finds Shelly (Ali Garrison), a vocal coach who can help him retrain his instrument. But until he can get back to auditioning, Z needs a day job — and he winds up as a barback at Squirly’s on Queen West, working for Santi (Xavier Lopez), who, as it happens, turns out to be very sympathetic to his situation.
Really Happy Someday is a small movie, made by a tiny team. Director J Stevens and Lalama wrote and produced it together; Stevens also acted as cinematographer. The narrative is drawn from Stevens’ and Lalama’s own lived experiences, told as authentically as possible. Indeed, Z’s retraining sessions with Shelly are more or less real: Garrison is a veteran voice coach, and when Z hits a note he didn’t think he could reach, the amazement on his face belongs to the performer as much as the character.
But Really Happy Someday isn’t just about a person learning to sing again. It's about community, and identity, and learning to live in a skin that finally feels like your own.
NORM WILNER
Content advisory: mature themes, nudity, sexually suggestive scenes
Screenings
Scotiabank 14
Scotiabank 11
Scotiabank 7
Scotiabank 5