The 2009 George Clooney movie “Up in the Air” is a drama about a man who makes his living laying people off. “The Complexity of Happiness” takes on the same theme, with a twist: The film tells the story of a man who pretends to befriend people to talk them into quitting their jobs.
The Italian black comedy tells the story of Enrico, a hatchet man hired by the boards of family-owned corporations. If the boards believe that the children of their late CEOs are ill-suited to the job, they hire Enrico to make those heirs feel that they are stepping down because they want to.
Gianni Zanasi’s film will be shown at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Thursday, July 7, and Saturday, July 9, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m.
The Sunday film will be followed by an Italian-art tour of the museum’s galleries and a four-course wine dinner at Peppercorn’s Grill.
Admission to the film is $9, $8 seniors and students, $7 members, free for Insider Access members. Admission to the wine dinner is $60, $55 for members. That price includes the art tour and the film screening. The Atheneum is at 600 Main St. in Hartford. thewadsworth.org.
