In his latest film, acclaimed director Mike Leigh (TOPSY-TURVY, VERA DRAKE) introduces us to a new cinematic hero: Poppy, an irrepressibly free-spirited school teacher who brings an infectious laugh and unsinkable sense of optimism to every situation she encounters. When her commuter bike is stolen, Poppy enthusiastically signs up for driving lessons with Scott, who turns out to be her polar opposite — 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. How all of this affects Poppy offers us a touching, truthful, and deeply life-affirming exploration of one of the most mysterious and often the most elusive of all human qualities: happiness.