Really Happy Someday Review: BFI Flare Festival 2025

A trans performer finds their voice in Canadian drama Really Happy Someday

Z (Breton Lalama) is one of the most promising talents on the Toronto musical theatre scene, but he’s plagued by confusion and insecurity about his gender. After making the decision to transition and starting on testosterone things seem to be looking up, as Z finally starts to feel like he’s living authentically. But his bodily changes have some unforeseen complications that threaten his burgeoning career.

In a major audition, Z’s voice repeatedly cracks whilst performing Eponine’s heartbreaking On My Own from Les Misérables – a role he’s killed before – and he completely bombs the audition. Terrified by the changes in his voice, Z starts to worry that he must choose between his transition and his ‘calling.’ Like theatre kids everywhere he has built so much of his identity around being a performer, but now it seems like that identity cannot coexist with the person he wants to become.

Just as Z’s career starts to fall apart his relationship does as well, as he and girlfriend Danielle (Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah) are forced to reconcile with the fact that neither of them is who they were when first fell in love. But just as things seem most bleak, Z encounters new friend and fellow trans man Santi (Xavier Lopez) and vocal coach Shelly (Ali Garrison.) Together, they begin a journey to help Z find his voice again.

It’s an intimate, personal film from writer/director J Stevens and Lalama, who co-wrote the script, the two of them flavouring Z’s journey with experiences from their own lives. Lalama leads with charisma and sensitivity, building a multifaceted character whose anger, confusion, fear and eventual joy feel truly authentic.

Really Happy Someday is a film about the transmasculine identity and is at pains to portray that transitioning is only the beginning of a long journey to self-acceptance and security. There are moments of gender euphoria yes, but Z is also forced to rebuild himself from the ground up. It’s not just as simple as taking the medicine and suddenly being the fully formed person he was meant to be – he finds that identity is more than just his body, his voice, or how he presents; it’s intrinsically linked to his interests, his passions and ideals.

It’s this idea that will make Really Happy Someday resonate with a wider audience – figuring out who you are and who you’re meant to be is something we’re all trying to do whether we’re settled in our gender or not. It’s a lifetimes work, and a journey that’s never really over, and while this film takes a unique perspective on that journey it’s one that also manages to feel universal.

The vocal performances also happen to be stunning, and sure to delight any musical theatre aficionados. The film is bookended by two audition ballads – the first from Les Mis and the second Favourite Places from Ordinary Days. For those in the know, much could be read into the choice to open with a song about feeling completely alone and closing with one about allowing oneself to imagine being happy – but whether you know the songs or not the scenes are emotionally moving nonetheless.

This is a warm embrace of a movie from Breton Lalama and J Stevens, a true celebration of trans joy and a recognition of the journey it takes to get there. Framed inside an empowering story about finding your voice through the magic of musical theatre, there’s much to enjoy.  

Really Happy Someday screened as part of the BFI Flare London Film Festival. Wider release details to be confirmed.