The Sunrise Theater will present a four-day run of the movie, "Happy-Go-Lucky," British Director Mike Leigh's infectiously joyous comedy about a London primary school teacher, Monday, Dec. 15, through Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Leigh imbues his protagonist with his present philosophy. At the Berlin Film Festival press conference he said, "It's important to reject the growing fashion to be miserabilist, the growing fashion to be pessimistic and gloomy because the world is in a bad way. Everywhere there are people on the ground getting on with it and being positive."

The movie stars Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman, Eddie Marsan, Andrea Riseborough, and Sinead Matthews.

Poppy (Sally Hawkins), is an irrepressibly free-spirited school teacher, who brings an infectious laugh and an unsinkable sense of optimism to every situation she encounters. Poppy's ability to maintain her perspective is tested when her commuter bike is stolen. Leigh packs the film with thoroughly well-observed moments between Poppy and her best friend, her boyfriend, and the other teachers. She is compassionate, caring, and insightful as a result.

Poppy signs up for driving lessons with Scott, who turns out to be her nemesis -- a fuming, uptight cynic. As the tension of their weekly lessons builds, Poppy encounters even more challenges to her positive state of mind: a fiery flamenco instructor, her bitter pregnant sister, a troubled homeless man and a young bully in her class, not to mention that she has also thrown out her back. The comedy is driven by how all this affects not only Poppy's world-view but also the outlook of those around her.

The historical Sunrise Theater is located at 250 NW Broad Street in Southern Pines. Tickets are $7 for adults. The film is rated R and runs for 118 minutes. Refreshments, including beer and wine, are available. All Sunrise Theater movies are commercial free.

For more information, contact the theater at (910) 692-3611 or visit www.sunrisetheater.com.