A wonderful short film for anyone interested in craft and work/life balance, this passion project from directors Danae Gosset, Santiago Carrasquilla, and Fabián Palacios V. introduces us to Luis Benz, a 70-year old sign painter of singular character.

Danae Gosset, Santiago Carrasquilla, and Fabián Palacios V.: “La Felicidad Se Consigue Con Cosas Muy Simples (Happiness is Achieved with Very Simple Things) is a short documentary that traces the life and art of Luis Benz, an artist who has spent the last 30 years in Argentina after emigrating from his native Uruguay.

“Through his dedication to the traditional art of lettering, the film traces a poignant portrait of a man who has faced profound losses, but continues to find beauty in the simplicity of life.
 

“The result is an intimate meditation on work, balance, and happiness, told through the lens of a man who dedicated his life to letters.”

 
“Instead of interviews, we asked Luis to paint fifty words that mattered most to him. Each hand-lettered sign became both a design artifact and a reflection of his philosophy: that joy is not found in more, but in less, in the act of making, in a simple life, and in the stories we share.

“Like many personal projects, the film took time, spending years on hard drives, and nearly a year in the editing room with long pauses in between. But those pauses gave the project perspective. Returning to the footage, the team rediscovered its quiet power and allowed the film to mature into what it was always meant to be.

“The result is an intimate meditation on work, balance, and happiness, told through the lens of a man who dedicated his life to letters.”
 
 

 
Director: Santiago Carrasquilla, Danae Gosset, Fabian Palacios V.
Producer: Juana Carrasquilla, Rodolfo D’Ambrosio, Santiago Carrasquilla, Danae Gosset
Cinematographer: Santiago Carrasquilla & Danae Gosset
Editor: Fabian Palacios V. & Santiago Carrasquilla
Designer: Luis Benz, Ming Hsun Yu

Color: Hadrian Kalbach @ Royal Post, Paris

Music: Armando Young
Sound Design: Tato Carrasquilla

Featuring: Luis Benz, Rosa Sachas