Swiss director Jan-Eric Mack's competition film at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, "A Happy Family," tells the story of Nicole "Niki" Hofer, a single mother struggling with issues related to child protection services. While the film presents an ordinary family drama, it hints at a more intriguing story beneath the surface. However, it gives the impression that this potentially bold narrative does not come to fruition and that the director struggles to fully control his story.

"A Happy Family" is notable for being the first Swiss film showcased in the Crystal Globe competition at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. By focusing more on the "drama" aspect, the film compromises on realism. Niki's efforts to defend her children against child protection services take the audience on a profound emotional journey. However, some scenes, such as Niki feeding her children cereal without milk, contain surprising and confusing elements that catch the audience off guard.

Anna Schinz delivers a powerful performance as Niki. In the film's opening scene, Niki's love for her children, observed by child protection services, is clearly evident. However, the purpose behind the director's use of this natural aesthetic remains ambiguous. Cinematographer Yunus Roy Imer successfully applies the natural storytelling style seen in films tackling challenging subjects like "System Crasher" here as well. Yet, Mack's intentions with this aesthetic are not clearly articulated.