On Sunday, I was among 100 people pre-screening the Strategic Entertainment movie Cost of Happiness at the Assyrian Association of Southern California Bet Umta in Los Angeles. What I saw was people ranging from 18-85+, laughing, talking and very excited about seeing a movie in Assyrian, about Assyrians. After the huge success of Akh Min Khimyani, Assyrians in LA were ready for another hit.

The west-coast premier was attended by Martin Khoshaba, the movie's Producer and Director, and by Juliana Jendo, who played the Mother of David: the lead character.
The new movie for Strategic Entertainment marked an improved performance that lacked in Akh Min Khimyani: believability in the acting and improvement in the quality of the cinematography. This movie did a wonderful job in capturing the ideas and feelings of a young man and his struggles, led by Khabeer who brought in a wonderful performance. Some of the cast from Akh Min Khimyani returned to give a decidedly improved performance which does credit to Khoshaba and the actors.

Cost of Happiness introduced the audience to the Assyrian stars:
Sandy Youkhana as Nahrain
Julian Jendo as the Mother
Adwin Khabeer, returning from Akh Min Khimyani, as David
Sami Yako, as Freydon
Zayya Maradkel, returning from Akh Min Khimyani, as the Father: Showel

Cost of Happiness is a feature-length dramatic film about a young Assyrian man, David (Adwin Khabeer), who is struggling to find happiness in his life. After the loss of his mother (Juliana Jindo), at an early age, David grows up trying to achieve the "American Dream" of prosperity, happiness, and love.
While working at a dead end job, David is faced with the challenge of dealing with his unemployed and alcoholic father Showel (Zayya Maradkel). To ease his troubles, David develops an obsession with making money quickly and at any cost. He meets local entrepreneur and community outcast, Freydon (Sami Yako), who offers David a chance to become wealthier than he could ever imagine.