Ode to Joy

Charlie lives with a rare condition that sends him into immediate, uncontrollable sleep whenever he feels genuine happiness, so he builds a life of careful routines and self-denial to avoid the simplest pleasures. Martin Freeman gives a quietly funny, tender performance as a man who has learned to guard his heart and regulate his reactions, turning social niceties and small comforts into potential hazards. The film balances deadpan humor with melancholy, showing how a strange neurological condition reshapes everyday existence.

When he meets Francesca (Morena Baccarin), her warmth and spontaneity begin to crack his defenses, forcing him to choose between safety and the messy risks of connection. Their tentative relationship becomes both comedic and poignant as they navigate the practical and emotional consequences of loving someone whose joy literally knocks him out. Light on sentimentality but big on charm, the movie uses its unusual premise to explore vulnerability, courage, and the strange ways people learn to live fully despite limits.