Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Fact and Fiction from Real-Life Inspired Film Joy


Rathana Ung is a native of Cambodia who has led numerous charitable projects in the country, including the building of water wells and the construction of an on-water, floating school. Other than yoga and pilates, Rathana Ung enjoys relaxing by watching movies. Her favorite actress is Jennifer Lawrence and her favorite film is Joy.

In Joy, Lawrence plays a divorced mother with an entrepreneurial spirit. After overcoming various obstacles, she eventually invents a self-wringing mop which becomes a successful Home Shopping Network product. The character is based on real life entrepreneur Joy Mangano, although, according to Lawrence, only about half of the film depicts Mangano's life accurately.

What's true about Mangano's life in the film is that she did find her niche as an inventor by first creating a fluorescent pet collar. She also first sold the Miracle Mop out of her father's auto body shop, and it's true that she remained close with her ex-husband; in fact, the two later worked together at Mangano's company, Ingenious Designs. Fictitious events from the film include Lawrence's character foregoing her education to help her family during her parents' divorce. In real life, Mangano attended Pace University and graduated with a degree in business administration. She also met her husband at Pace University, not while he was singing at a party as portrayed in the film.