Meet the Happiest Guy in the World | Op-Docs
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- Опубликовано: 5 май 2018
- What kind of person takes a cruise not for a week or a month, but for the rest of his life? Meet Mario Salcedo, who says that nearly 20 years of nonstop cruise ship living have made him “The Happiest Guy in the World” - though the truth of that claim may be in the eye of the beholder.
Read the article here: nyti.ms/2HRa7BY
This is the third Op-Doc from the prolific young director Lance Oppenheim. In last year’s “No Jail Time: The Movie,” he delved into a subculture of lawyers using filmmaking techniques to reduce their clients’ sentences. His Op-Doc debut was “Long Term Parking,” about a group of airline employees who live in an airport parking lot. Together, “Long Term Parking” and “The Happiest Guy in the World,” draw a vivid portrait, both hopeful and bleak, of Americans trying to redefine what counts as “home.”
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"i have eliminated non value added activities" cut to a shot of him smoking a cigarette. brilliant.
His last sentence of the interview ended with a pretty ugly cough. If he keeps smoking like that, he won't last much longer.
the directing in this is brilliant, it subtly points out that his life is not what you would call fulfilled
just look at 3:42 where he sais that he is happily alone then the music suddenly stops and you see him sitting there lonely
rapha Ha not everyone who is alone is lonely...
@@bedfordnhdonkey exactly
he thinks he's alone but not lonely, but the way it is edited suggests that he infact is alone and lonely at the same time
Hahahahah good point
is anyone going to mention how beautifully shot this documentary was? it feels like a real cinematic piece - the music, the framing, the colour grading, the overall cinematography. for instance, in the part where he's consulting his spreadsheet on his laptop with two other cruisers, the lighting is incredible - the golden gleaming of the table centrepiece and all the glasses and drinks on it. seriously, kudos to the director. i would love to see more documentaries like this from this channel!
Why does everyone deem it necessary to add mind numbing music to every thing?
Joe Eckley to have it seem like theres more the story than there really is.
You sound like a fan of corridor digital? Am I right?
agreed
Lance Oppenheim is a filmmaker and a junior at Harvard College. His previous Op-Docs are “No Jail Time: The Movie” and “Long Term Parking.” “The Happiest Guy in the World” debuted on April 26 at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.
This looks like a documentary style episode of black mirror
With a hint of Lost in Translation
He looks like me when I'm depressed and trying to convince everyone that I'm fine.
Marc Shanahan, Exactly. Note how he reminded us more than once, "I'm the happiest man in the world" almost like a mantra repeated in an effort to make himself believe it.
He is clearly just trying to avoid cleaning...
Yea, exactly. He is avoiding something. He put himself in this fantasy world to avoid reality. This is not true happiness. What he needs is to go face his fear, face the land. Conquer what he is avoiding. If not, he will live his whole life just pretending.
@@hotsauceislethal9430 And living like a normal person. I would be bored in 5 days.
Marc Shanahan The token weirdo of the ship
I have to say, this was beautifully shot and directed.
Seriously - this felt less like a profile and more like a serious short film.
And edited
Correct. Opening shot and shot at 6:53 are exceptionally creative. He must have been using a gimbal rig to get such smooth shots.
i was about to say the same thing?
Lance Oppenheim is a filmmaker and a junior at Harvard College. His previous Op-Docs are “No Jail Time: The Movie” and “Long Term Parking.” “The Happiest Guy in the World” debuted on April 26 at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.
Whether or not Mario is happy, this is amazing visual storytelling. Its superlative cinematography and editing suggest multiple answers to that question, but the answer is Mario's alone. I celebrate anyone who can enjoy their days as they see fit, without harming anyone and with a personal logic and poetry.
Her Aeolian Harp I don't think he isn't harming anyone. His wasteful bon vivant lifestyle is damaging our environment significantly more than if he didn't live on cruise ships
He IS exactly as depicted!!!! As a cruiser on RCI I've been looking for him for years. I finally found him, on the smoking deck, sitting in his "Office" with chair, computer, desk, sofa, an occasional chair, beverage on hand and smoking a cigar. So, I asked to be seated and he invited me to sit on the sofa. What an experience!! Cordial, pleasant, courteous, friendly, funny with many interests. We visited for quite a while, like old friends. We were on a 12 day Trans-Atlantic cruise. I said "Hi" to him a few days later and he called me by name. A 3rd encounter as I sat wth his Pinnacle level friends at a Trivia Game.What fun! I spoke to a crew member about him and he said he is wonderful, super friendly, respectful and gets every perk and we will get anything, if possible, he asks for. For a serise of full interviews search on YT Life on a Cruise Ship.
I really enjoyed this piece. He seems like he would he a pure delight!
I had the opposite experience. He was very rude.
@@gamingstooges5377 really?
"I have everything booked until May of 2019!"
...wait a minute
Same, like I wonder what he’s doing right now??
P
He is still cruising I was just on a cruise and he was on it.
Christopher Ball are you for real
This honestly seems like the start to a feature length movie.
Sofia Coppola is ALL over this. It's a similar circumstance/vibe to both 'Somewhere' and 'Lost in Translation'.
@@AIRTIME96 DUDE lost in translation for sure!!!!
Watching this in 2020 and it seemed so well shot but I think what I took away from it is happiness is subjective. To me this lifestyle seems like a nice escape maybe even for a year and the joy of always seeing people celebrating and partying and the fancy lights and sunshine on the water and its sort of romantic in a way but also lonely in another to me. Regardless it really is an interesting piece and is interesting to see the way one wealthy man is choosing to live his life. I wonder if he has been on land since this was shot in the COVID times or if he had to dock breaking his quest for 20 years of cruising.
@@exzisd during Covid cruise stoppage, he lived in Aruba…
@@exzisd I read he had to during cvd- go to his condo in Miami. (The Mirror newspaper)
I was fortunate to work with him a few years back in the mid-90s. I would describe him as "fatherly" and a really supportive guy. And super genuine.
What type of work/category. was this?
@@jonathancbc - Financial. He was a Controller at a Fortune 100 company
Way ahead of his time. A lot of people now spending long periods cruising. When he started, it was a unique insight. It takes a lot of organization and planning to do this.
3:49 wonderfully edited, the director conveys a clear message without words
Please stop! Wonderfully edited - Citizen Kane is well edited. This is a u tube video. Dime for six dozen!
@@fromthepeanutgallery1084 citizen cane? ROFL, an 80 year old movie by definition can't be well edited. It's 80 years old.
I Totally understand Mario!
I’m 45 years, did electrical work, bought a house, rented it out, semi retired to a family cabin on a lake in Northern MN for the last 18 years. No wife or kids, you just learn to enjoy life! Cheers Super Mario!
I'm not quite understanding your story. You're 45 years old? Are you living a retired life or a bachelor's life?
I met him twice on Freedom and Explorer of the Seas. Very interesting person. I think he told me he manages portfolio investments for the employees of the cruise ships he goes on. He knows everyone. He is also a Pentagle Member, well he should be with 365 cruise nights per year.
A what? 🤣
I’m not going to judge his reasoning, it’s quite interesting to see someone living such an unconventional lifestyle. If his personality is geared towards really enjoying alone time, and people-watching, he’s sure found a creative way to do it!
My thoughts exactly.
Marc made the comment of how this man is pretending he is ‘the happiest man’ - but we can ‘feel’ the fakiness that comes through. I went on several cruises once & tbh - after your fifth week....it gets a little ‘same “ole same ‘ole.”Family & unique experiences - even a few not so fun things - keep my mind full & my heart happy. Life is better with variety - the gentleman knows that no children & grandchildren is a big part of life that ‘stuff’ will not replace. To each his own. Each human needs to do what is the best for them.😎✌🏽❤
Have no doubt there is someone out there with the family & nice ‘land life’ with good & not so good variety in their daily living who would be very willing to trade places with Mario!😜
I like being alone myself, i am pretty reclusive this would be a great lifestyle, but also you need to have all kinds of money to do this
This is so beautiful. I love the pauses/silences. The families he was speaking to almost looked sad for him when he said all he had to look foreword to is the new ships. So many of us can’t seem to understand when someone is just … happy, not ecstatic but reasonably happy and alone. I get it.
He’s low key depressed. He’s not even “reasonably happy“.
@@indrinita consider his alternative, living on land he would be relatively isolated without family. Here he is the most social he can be.
@@reesehendricksen1871 he has had family he could have socially engaged… including at least 2 grandsons aged 12 & 14...
@@silviaeaston How does have grandkids if he had no children?
@@justsomeone2391 He had at least two children (Diana and Alexander) with second wife Rosenda Fait (now divorced). The 2 grandchildren are Conner and Alexander.
6:05 Mario is me when my family asks what I'm doing with my life. And the way the people reacted to him is exactly how my family reacts.
Bolsheviki 😂 same
True
This actually made me lol!! Great comment
I think some people forget that some personality types (mine included - INTJ) actually can prefer to be alone. We can be completely happy and satisfied without others. It may look odd, or be offensive to loved ones, but that can be the case. I believe that he feels as he is "the happiest man in the world" despite being alone. Alone, not lonely.
To me, Mario is clearly unhappy. 3 years later, do you still hold the same view? I'm interested as to whether your mind has changed or not.
im autistic and love being alone-pple don't understand
That was incredibly depressing.
He's not living. He's just existing.
Caleb Cain what do you do that isn’t existing. Go to your job 40 hours a week and spend all the money on bills so u can exist
@@rexlinville8606 I make things, I have friends, I learn and change, and engage with other people and groups who do.
He just floats and smokes.
@@rexlinville8606
I'm literally disabled and don't have a job because of that, and I do more than he appears to do and I live more than he seems to.
He has other videos up and seems much happier than this. I’m glad I saw them first.
Caleb Cain I have seen his other videos where Alanna interviews him, he seems very happy. He knows all the staff and captains, they do special things for him. He is known by many passengers too, he has a great social life I am sure. Just different to us. On those other videos we see the terrible sun damage to his skin, he should get that seen too, plus he has the smokers cough, he is not too healthy.
There is a Hindi songs "Tum itna Jo muskurara rahe ho, Kya gum hai jisko chupa rahe ho" translated it means "Why are you smiling so much. What is the sadness that you are trying so hard to hide". This guy exemplifies it...
Great looking doc... but how does someone afford to go on all these cruises. I think that was a big part missing from this story I would've liked to know
People rent their places on land and it covers all costs. The boats have healthcare and everything
On other vid's he explained he works on his computer for a few very wealthy European clients and invests their portfolio and is paid very well also he owns a condo in Miami where he often goes to while ship its in dock (not after every one but often enough to switch clothes etc) to drop off laundry (he has a maid who takes care of it) and picks up clean laundry between cruises..he has inside stateroom and at his level pays over 100k a year
Search his videos online. Search Mario cruises Alana and he explains it all
Mario is my hero. He works in his "office" from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm doing wealth management consulting moving millions around the world...while living at sea...living his dream. I only hope I can meet him sometime, because that is my dream too.
He looks so lost and lonely. No friends, just talking to staff and doing nothing. This was really depressing to watch. Life truly is nothing without special relationships like family (or chosen family).
It depends on individual. Some people can live on an island alone and feel contend, someone needs companions.
I've never really been that happy. I currently live alone and am not really any less happy than when I was around people.
@@purpleguru4763 me too.
I believe one can live life alone and not be lonely. The impression I got was that part of the "package" of being a top cruiser, he sort of "owns" the ship and the crew are his staff. Everything is done for him and all he's doing is using his disposal income from good investments 20-30 years ago to pay their wages. :)
He even has his own office assigned for him so he can run his internet business too.
I liked it when he said, when the timed comes he'll go for one last scuba dive at 400 ft! Good humour right there.
But life has a companion like family,friends has no price no money can buy this that happiness and love you can find
"Doesn't like living in a group dynamic"? Seems like his whole existence is precisely that.
MyGirlsHair same as living in a village or small town, most of us live in, but I can see his point.
This director has 2 full length documentaries I highly recommend to everyone. Best I’ve seen.
Seems more like the Saddest Guy in the World, trying his best to hide that fact. But who knows.
loneliness = sadness
He spoke about how he would die, and described it well. He lives everyday like it's his last... Don't you think.
I think that's what the title was going for.
magister61. sadness is people with facebook and instagram accounts constantly looking for attention and recognition from people they don't even know.
That's kind of the point, Caleb.
what kind of a maniac does their calendar in excel
Just about every company in the world I'd say...
gnrdp good job, you managed to miss the obvious point. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
A poor maniac
Еveryone obviously
He sets up his itinerary in Excel and also adds appointments with friends there. Watch his series on RUclips. Very informative and interesting.
From a filmmaking standpoint, this is one of the greatest documentary pieces I have ever seen... The cinematography, the editing, the directing... Incredible. Bravo.
Not everyone needs people He gets to do what he wants I'm happy for him
I dont get the comments. If he wants to be alone on a cruise ship then why give him crap for it. The vast majority of people in this world are extroverts but there are some people like Mario who dont need constant human interaction to be happy. I would enjoy his lifestyle as well
kiDkiDkiD12 agreed
If he wants to be alone then a cruise ship is a pretty dumb place to be.
bawfuls I can see why you'd say that, but as an introvert, I disagree. It's easy to stay by yourself when everyone else always leaves. There's no permanence on a cruise so there's no one looking for you. Sometimes it's easier to feel alone in a crowd where no one knows you or acknowledges you. Still, I feel like he does it more to avoid daily responsibilities like cooking and cleaning more so than to avoid relationships.
Avoiding cooking/cleaning/laundry as he mentioned is also an odd reason, as it's quite easy to hire people to provide those services for you on land as well, and clearly he can afford to.
As an introvert myself, i agree. Although not being able to spontaneously leave the ship at any time and go somewhere else would annoy me.
Exceptionally good in terms of how this was shot. it clearly gives me the sense of him trying to convince me he is the happiest guy, although the facts show the opposite. Had the direction been different, the feel wouldn't have been so potent. JUST GREAT!!!!!
I love how we leave everything behind and take the risk to find his happiness. ❤
Solitude is reward enough. I am going to give this a go.
I watched this video a month or two ago and thought how could he be happy. With the pressures of my current job I get it. I just returned from a short cruise to Estonia and I do love cruises and just being on the ocean is amazing. So I totally get it now.
Everything is subjective, what may seem like a sad existence to one person might be perfect to another. Just because you disagree with it doesn't mean it wrong.
5:55 screams depression. You can hear the the others play along with him. No one believes him.
I met him on Harmony and he gave me his autograph, such a wonderful man! Mario if you are reading this let's take a Chef's Table on our TA to Barcelona April 21, my treat!
Beautifully shot/edited piece....excellent work 👊
When he said he wasn't worried about death but then started coughing i got really dark vibes from him
The cinematography is incredible
This was shot so well I thought it was acted. The "I'm not gonna worry about that" and then cough at the end? Perfect.
Good God he has been listening to cruise ship bands for 20 years!
This is brilliant filmmaking. Absolutely brilliant. 5:42-6:36 is truly masterful. The framing of the shots with the windows and sharp lines makes it feel almost like a prison.
While watching I noticed everyone was super awkward it made me mad because they pitied him
Moss Kimo I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that.
Why did it make you mad?
This is so insanely well made. The moments are so raw but the cinematography looks so planned out
Well there are a lot of people all over the world who come home lonely from work with no family, no connections, for whatever reason it is what it is. This guy probably just found a comfort zone, even though not ideal, it brings him some sort of peace of mind...it's almost as if he owns the cruise or something. One week turned into one year turned into 20 years. Some people don't really have the need to be intimate or it's really difficult for them, or they are not interested, but this guy was a successful business person -- so you never can tell the strengths and weaknesses of a person. Besides loneliness is relative. From the outside, going on social media (facebook, instagram, ...) all the time trying to find validation from other strangers seems strange too.
Never trust anyone who always brags about something
Wayne T he said he has all the time in the world to enjoy himself
If I had that much time I would enjoy myself so much
Really interesting. I've always wondered what it would be to live life on a cruise ship permanently. I wish they went into more detail on how he manages things you do routinely from land. So many people commenting on how he is so lonely, sad etc. but I disagree. He may very well be happy living this lifestyle. I've heard stories about how living on a ship is actually less expensive than living on land. This may very well be the retirement community of the future.
So no ones gonna talk about how professional the production of this was?
When he says "im a happiest man in the world" it looks like he's trying to comfort himself from the fact that his lonely. Just my thought pls no hate comments. Thanks
Mr. Mario has really good personality, always friendly, happy!
Don't become a psychologist.
Oh god he’s the “where’s my hug” guy of the cruise ship
sirpsychosexy 😂😂😂😂😂The weird smelling partial-pedi one😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
brilliantly shot. Just stunning
That made me feel kinda sorry for him but if he's truly happy living like that, then who am I to judge.
the point was that he isn't
I don't feel bad he likes being alone.
The only thing I have to look forward to is the new ships...
I wish everyone would find that one thing that make them as happy as this man is
might be one of the best documentaries in the world.
If he's happy, who's to judge (aside from judging the carbon footprint).
Anonymous he’s not happy that’s the point.
@@kittycurious6444 How do you know?
@@kittycurious6444 says a random person on the internet who never met him in person.
@@ASLUHLUHCE He seems like a lonely person and the way he talks about seems like he is trying to hide it.
Carnival's food would make me the sickest guy in the world.
His voice said it all
He is racing happiness and racing away from responsibilities in life for 19 years
I feel you bro😆
Really fascinating, well-shot and edited
There is a woman also who retired to a cruise ship. :). Love it. Smart!
Naturally happy people NEVER feel the need to make profound statements about it. They can also be just as happy both on land and water. Escapism is not true happiness. It's just a reaction to sadness and discontent.
Great video. Reminds me of "Up in the Air." There are unspoken volumes here, wonderfully captured with the right framing and timing.
Such a beautiful documentary, and even sadder.
6:03 This part got to me the most. It's almost as if the family is consoling him, reassuring him (almost out of pity) that his life is great. He follows with "..but i'm happy. I'm the happiest guy.. I'm very happy". Like he's trying to convince them and himself that he's genuinely happy.. but he's dead inside.. He's dead.
I noticed that also. He is like a ship without a rudder. No pun intended. Add to that his smoking habit.... I feel for him!
5:34 that shot though
You know what I like this! I like this guy and the way he thinks!
Super Mario, who spends 350 days a year at sea, said that cruising never gets old and he has “lost (his) land legs”.
If you're wondering how much of his life is vacation. Imagine 2:40 on repeat for 19 years.
He could be a cocaine dealer and call it corporate work. Use cruise ships to live in international waters to escape the law. Just saying....
Animated Tigress how does he escape the law? But it makes sense what you said.
u know ships go to ports? and have and must give list of all passangers to port administration, lol escaping the law...
His Happiness is immeasurable and my day is made.
This was filmed incredibly well. Fantastic shots and cuts. I just wish there was a slightly longer version
I'm so sorry for this guy! His only friends are people payed to be nice to him!
Zachary Cohn whats wrong with that? Sure it's superficail but atlest he's not hurting anyone. He Isn't scheming people, trying to take people's money by pernding to love someone and then take half their money. He seems like an okay guy to me
@@N12Gautam Yep, he sounds a nice guy. Reckon he enjoys walking around the ship and greeting "his staff" that do everything he needs. He's found his Nirvana for sure.
How can he feel lonely?He lives in a ship full of people .He can talk , laugh, sleep , eat with everyone he wants .He has someone everyday to say a polite good morning .Don't confuse freedom with isolation
I've worked on cruises as a musician and have met a few cruislings, they haven't lived on a ship to this extent, but cruise consistently, and I get a lonely vibe from them. Like when Mario said all his friends were there as he walked in the dining area, but there were just staff there, paid to be civil to him, not saying they wouldn't either way, but you're kinda obliged to listen and befriend passengers, it's your job. I personally find the engagements forced a lot of the time, and I understand Mario when he says he not interested in being involved in the group dynamic. But yes, beautifully shot, I think it lacked some humorous anecdotes, interactions, and a bit of info as to why he is able to afford his lifestyle.
Thought that was BILL BELICHICK for a second at first, lmao!!
You know how when you go on long vacations or social events back to back and you just get burnt out.
This man is way past that point.
Legend has it, he's still cruising today.
Exceptionally well shot and edited, musical choices are fantastic. Most interesting thing is how the guy keeps saying that he is the happiest guy in the world, but all the visual composition suggests just the opposite. It is sort of saying you can trust what you see more than what you hear. The line where he says "I wish I had my own private elevator" sort of says it all.
He's right though. I hate people and even more so in elevators.
WELL DONE. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY WAS FANTASTIC.
_"I'm the happiest guy in the world."_
The more he says it, the more he might convince himself of it.
🎡🎢 🚀
6:05 i started crying
People saying Super Mario is sad apparently have never been a cruiser! He gets to travel the world, never has to cook or clean, meets new people every day, unlimited entertainment..... he’s living the life! I’ve watched a few videos about him, he’s very happy with his life.
Beautiful cinematography!
Left this video completely unconvinced
*The real, unanswered question here is, how is he PAYING for it all?*
That's what I'd like to know.
Well, he said he worked a lot in the corporate world and never got married nor had children, so he either retired with a very-very-very nice pension, or sold his company or something like that I guess.
That’s what I was thinking, happiest cruise ship in the world...having a permanent customer.
he was married
A retirement plan. He has one and he also has a small business he runs from the ships.
Even the editting confirms his depression. The elevator voice "Going down" at 7:09 killed me 🤣
Love every second of it.
fantastic video... you can see in the comments how thought provoking it is, everyone debating whether or not he is truly happy. Really well done.
He’s so lonely I can feel it ❤️😭
Love it !!! sounds great ,you doing this
Very clear. More docs should be like this.
It's his life. He can afford this lifestyle. Happy?. Only he can speak the truth.
Thank you
I didn't know that Joey Diaz lived on a cruise ship.
Thank you I was thinking the same
exactly my thoughts - just watch out for that bear that sh!ts in your garden!
Glad some people are running an experiment like this, for our knowledge if nothing else.
beautiful video and a different perspective on Super Mario's life. Thank you.
What is the music at the end starting around 8:50? It's absolutely beautiful.
I would love to see an update of this (in 2021). Is he still on a ship now? How did he manage when COVID prevented people/staff from leaving a ship? Was it as good then?
He spent he's time during Covid at a friend's Condo in Aruba.
I was on the Freedom of the Seas back in 2017 and there he was on the pool deck smoking area... smoking away while on the laptop. He is a legend.
Love this video give me motivation 👍❤️