Le Bonheur was French director Agnes Varda's first color film. To critics who carped that her choice of hues was not "realistic", she responded that she was choosing the hues that were best suited psychologically to her story. The film's protagonist is a young, married carpenter (Jean-Claude Drouot). He takes a mistress (Marie-France Boyer), assuming that he can be equally in love with both his wife and the new woman in his life. When the wife drowns, the mistress quietly takes her place. This plot twist is remains a subject of debate amongst Varda's admirers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide