In Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life, directed by Jay Arnold, we follow the vibrant journey of Sergio Dondoli—a humble artisan whose boundless joy and passion for gelato transform his life and craft into an inspiring story of creativity and fulfillment.
Aspiring chef Sergio Dondoli spent nearly two decades traveling across Europe, learning the culinary arts and refining his skills before returning to Italy to pursue his dream. In 1992, he opened Gelateria Dondoli in the medieval heart of San Gimignano, much to the dismay of the other gelaterias in the area. With mafia-like tactics, Dondoli was thwarted at every turn by his competition. With great persistence and a lot of nagging of the town’s mayor, Gelateria Dondoli finally opened, and over the years, Dondoli truly perfected the gelato through his techniques and ingredients.
Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life is a tasty tribute to food and joy, charting Dondoli’s rise from these modest beginnings to founding one of the most celebrated gelaterias in the world. Today, Gelateria Dondoli stands as a hub of flavor innovation, featuring signature creations like Crema di Santa Fina® (saffron and pine nuts) and Champelmo® (pink grapefruit with Vernaccia sparkling wine), each born from Dondoli’s deep respect for Tuscan ingredients and his flair for originality.
A vintage moment showing Sergio Dondoli’s early days serving gelato to local children.
“With mafia-like tactics, Dondoli was thwarted at every turn by his competition.”
Jay Arnold’s take on Dondoli’s story is about more than just food, and, as the title suggests, “Happy Life” is the main theme of the documentary. It swirls its way around not only why Dondoli’s gelato is the best in the world, but also how an elderly gentleman found long life and a long career. At its core, the most important thing in life is being happy. Dondoli has a happy marriage, a happy family, and a happy business with happy employees. We see how Dondoli’s positive attitude rubs off on everyone around him.
Strangely enough, happiness is a key ingredient in his gelato. In fact, what makes Dondoli’s gelato the best is its ingredients—all fresh and all locally sourced. Where happiness comes in is with the cows that produce the milk. Along with his milk partner, his cows live in a stress-free environment and are given the best feed, all to produce the best milk. His cows remain healthy and content year-round. Just the description of this process is worth watching Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life. I’ve always felt that in the battle between science and nature, nature always comes out on top. Nothing in a lab can outshine what God (or whatever deity you follow) can produce, all without chemical interference.
What stands out most in Sergio Dondoli’s Happy Life is its happy and charismatic subject, whose joy is as rich and memorable as his gelato. In a cynical world, Dondoli’s infectious optimism is like the cream that rises to the top, reminding us that happiness is both rare and worth pursuing. Arnold’s documentary leaves you with the sweet aftertaste of a life well-lived and the inspiration to savor every moment.
"…happiness is a key ingredient in his gelato."
