Life During Wartime is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Todd Solondz, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 2009. It is a direct, but loose sequel to his 1998 film Happiness, with new actors playing the same characters. It stars Allison Janney, Shirley Henderson, and Ciarán Hinds, among others. Solondz said Life During Wartime was "a little more politically overt" than previous works." Life During Wartime won the Golden Osella award for best screenplay at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. The plot revolves around the three sisters... featured in Happiness: Trish , Joy , and Helen . Since the events of Happiness, Joy has married Helen's former neighbor Allen Mellencamp , who continues to struggle with his compulsion to make obscene phone calls. On the occasion of their anniversary, he gives Joy an engraved ashtray, which appears to be the same one given to her by Andy in the opening scene of Happiness. Trish has been raising her three children, Billy , Timmy and Chloe.
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| Release date: | September 2009 |
| Directed by: | Todd Solondz |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 98 Minutes |
| Producer: | Derrick Tseng, Christine K. Walker |
| Editor: | Kevin Messman |
| Music by: | Doug Bernheim |
| Cinematography: | Edward Lachman |
| Screenplay by: | Todd Solondz |
| Estimated budget: | $4,500,000 |
| Genre: | Comedy |