Review of Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life” Documentary a must-watch for foodies, travelers, and anyone in need of a feel-good escape.

The beginning of the documentary is very exciting with an explanation about Rosemary and how important it is to Tuscany and Sergio’s Gelato.  While he does start with his childhood, he glosses over it and really starts his journey in 1971 in Germany.   He meets his wife in 1977, starts a business around 1984 that is successful. His firs Gelato shop is in Germany.  After several years of success, he decides to move back to Italy about 1990.

Sergio’s life has good times and bad. He settles down in San Gimignano to open a new Gelato Shop in the square.   After a little while he learns about a Biodynamic farm just outside San Gimignano.  Since Sergio is a believer in learning he meets Fabio Alberti, one of the owners, and learns about ‘Happy Life’.  Fabio shares how their cows live to be 16-17 years old giving milk, how they have 15-16 calves during their life and the cows are ‘happy’ because they have done what they are supposed to do.  On this farm, there are no antibiotics, the cows graze freely, they see their calves as they grow up and they produce very good milk.   Sergio believes in using the freshest and best ingredients in his Gelato, which has won him awards but brings 2000-3000 people a day to his shop from around the world. 

The other people interviewed in the documentary: Gaetano Trovato—a chef of 40 years that also makes Gelato, Fabio Alberti—the farmer where Sergio gets the milk, Carolina Tadde—a fellow town member that knows and sees Sergio and his shop, Andrea Marrucci—Mayor of San Gimignano, Maria Innio—a 20 year employee at Gelateria Dondoli, Patrizia Parigi—another employee of 26 years, Dario Cecchini—a butcher and friend of Sergio that has many of the same ideas have all provided great insight into Gelato, San Gimignano and Sergio Dondoli.  All of them agree that Sergio is a great member of the town, continually brings good to the town and is a wonderful person to know, work for, work with and count as a friend.  All of this leads to a Happy Life.

The Dondoli gelato is well known for its different flavors that are made fresh and eaten daily.  They have about 38 flavors at a time but have had upwards of 70-80 with many being seasonal.   I enjoyed learning about Sergio Dondoli, Gelato, San Gimignano and a life that truly is happy in spite of hard times.  This was a great documentary. 

There are only a couple of things that could be better.  There were too many outtakes of the countryside, square, and other cut aways between the different parts of the documentary.  This made it a little longer and drier than it may have needed to be. While the interview format was good for the documentary; it would have been nice to have a few segments like the Gelato school when Sergio was showing how to make Gelato.  For Gelato lovers, travelers, and those wanting to see or taste something different this would be the documentary to watch before planning a trip to Italy. ENJOY GELATO!