Was it the documentary "Happy People: A Year in the Taiga" perhaps?
What I got from that movie was a lack of consumerism and a deep connection with nature, as well as a tight family/community all contributed to happiness. I watched a similar show about people in Alaska and they spoke about the satisfaction of having an intimate connection to their food (having caught it themselves, knowing the river they caught their fish, etc) and making everything for themselves off the land. I'm sure it gives you a different perspective about the things you own. And the things you put labor into building/making are more precious than if you bought it off the shelf...have you ever experienced this? Things just have more meaning when you personally put the effort into creating them, whether it's a meal or a piece of clothing.