User Reviews

In some ways the story reminds me of Shirley Valentine: a woman leaves her dull life and uninterested husband and goes to the lovely Mediterranean. In this version she finds out that her recently deceased mother owns a house on an island. From the first day on the island and onwards, her life gradually starts to change to the better. She makes new friends and enjoys her new environment. She also has to handle conflicts and, eventually make up her mind about how to act as the new owner of a small house with a breathtaking view. It's a warm and sometimes funny movie with quite a few surprises. All actors give their character good credibility and personality.

After reading other reviews of this movie, I was intrigued enough to want to watch it for myself. Yes, the movie is a little formulaic, as other reviewers have pointed out, but the vast majority of movies out there are formulaic in one way or another. - at least to me they are, so that wasn't a deal breaker for me. Faraway is indeed a story we've all seen and heard before, but it is offered to us with an exotic twist - a welcome and fascinating twist. Set partly in Croatia, the rustic scenery is inviting and alluring, and the two main characters, Zeyrep and Josip have genuine chemistry. This movie did not disappoint.

The story is cute, the views are absolutely wonderful, but what I really loved about this movie was that they took a real woman to play the role, not trying to look younger or perfect, just a normal woman showing a normal body and her wrinkes. It makes women like her, to feel good about theirselves and believe that they are also worth of having a new love story in their lives.

The actor is very charming but also not perfect, has a beer belly which for most of women is not important. Usually the men are the ones who want perfect look women.

The soundtrack is also very nice. The movie has some funny parts that will make you laugh.

It's a mature woman's discovery of her maternal ties and herself. It feels somewhat like a mix of Mamma Mia 2 and Eat Pray Love?

Kinda sweet, feel good movie. Nothing outstanding or ground breaking to be honest but overall I think is a good watch if you're looking for something "quiet". There's not a lot that happens here that's like exciting or wild but it's a good closed story.

My favorite is the scenery and the vibes. It just feels like I also want to venture into a country home near a beach and spend my time looking at the sunsets.

FYI: There's some sequences of nudity nothing too sexual.

Zeynep just lost her mother and on her funeral day, she gets to know about a house her mother had bought in Croatia. On the same day, she realizes how she is taken for granted by her ignorant family and to top it, the husband cheating on her. This pushes her to the extreme where she instantly decides moving to the house in Croatia, her mother had bought. It is there she meets Josip, his ways to make her value the house she wants to sell and she truly understanding her mother which helps to seek her own happiness.

This indeed was a truly heartwarming watch, neatly performed by everyone. The comic tone adds the extra layer to this multilingual rom-com which made the whole subplot involving Zeynep realizing her roots in Croatia all the more special. The chemistry between Zeynep and Josip was another highlight. With stunning visuals, this simple story truly runs high on human emotions and the crazy yet funny final act stands out in the way all the issues are sorted out without going overboard.

Slow start but gets better as it goes on.

LOVED how the main character was a natural 'normal' mature lady - not a stick insect/ glamour puss. The main man - no rippling muscles and strong jaw line. Hooray!

Starts with a family not really knowing each other anymore and wrapped up in their own lives. Circumstances makes the mum of the family head away to a beautiful island. Suddenly the whole film lifts, it's like the film has moved from black & white to colour.

It won't take long to work out what's going to happen at the end. It's certainly satisfactory.

This was some of my ironing films ... something you don't need to concentrate too hard on when watching. I recommend it.

Lighthearted story of a Turkish woman living in gloomy Germany. Overwhelmed with the stresses of a middle age mother & wife she gets to escape to the slow paced sunny Mediterranean paradise. The film is a German aka Euro more natural style movie with the main character a middle age woman who does not look or act like your typical Hollywood leading role actress.

Overall it is a great way to relax & enjoy 2 hours in the Mediterranean beauty of the blue ocean and undeveloped coastal area. The story is somewhat predictable and acting uneven, yet the point of the movie is to take you and the middle age main character away to the sunny costa azul of Croatia!

I enjoyed this movie because the lead actress was a mature woman who looked her age with a few extra pounds and wrinkles , provingthat you can attract a man without botox and a slim body. I hadnever heard of Naomi Krauss but found her portrayal of the taken for granted wife and mother captivating. I can truly understand how the handsome Bogdan fell for her. Yes, there are many cliches but overall it was a refreshing feel good movie with fine performances and absolutely gorgeous scenery. Enjoyed it so much that I would love to see a sequel! Maybe its not Shakespeare but this chick flick was entertaining and fun.

No pun intended - the movie starts off quite good. I mean it feels like a drama, where you are not sure where it will take you. Until you find out where it takes you. And you kind of begin to think, why didn't they expand on the beginning, on the themes ... on the ambiguity? It was tough to tell right or wrong - well if you kept an open mind that is and did not expect cliches.

Turns out it is cliches we are going to get served. Now don't get it twisted, they are served very well and the actors are good in what they do. It still doesn't change ... well it changes their lives, but not the status quo and the ... let's call it guessing game. We know where the movie is leading us - the end is quite predictable.

Again you may care about that or not. It is just a shame, that the movie took this turn, when it could have been a drama about two people and their issues ... in love and in .. not love. Anyway, don't expect too much and you'll have fun.

It's essentially about a Turkish woman living in Germany, so Turkish, German and English speaking (really?), who goes to Croatia/Dalmatia to get away from busy hubbie and find love/life.

The scenery is fabulous. One really can't go wrong with the Dalmatian coast... it's an Adriatic version of the Aegean. Very beautiful, stunning and inspiring.

However... the cultural setting is very confused and confusing. She is Turkish, so speaks Turkish and German, but seems to spend most of her time speaking English. The Croatians speak Croatian but seem to spend too much of their time speaking English...

And as the film progresses, there is this feeling of Americanized 'preachiness' entering the dialogues. Especially through her. She sounds more like a Turkish/German living in the US than a Turkish German living in Germany.

While there are nice touches of Croatian culture, like the male voice Croatian choir, very nicely sung! The Croatians also seem very Americanized, esp the young ones.

I'm used to Balkan culture, It is very local. So I wasn't impressed by how American the younger Croatians were made to come across.

Germans can sometimes seem indistinguishable from Americans, so Atlanticist are they. Her lines became increasingly US politically correct preachy as the film wore on. I didn't appreciate that as Turkish Germans would not be SO Americanised.

So, all in all the story started well but by 2/3 through had descended into US gushy romantic. Not European at all.

I give the scenery 5 out of ten. It should have 10/10. It was truly specular. Bit the story cold have been much more European (German/Croatian/Turkish) and less Americanised. So I take away 5 pints for that.

Yes I would recommend it... it watchable movie with great potential to entertain, marred by American style preachiness.

So first off, I'm a guy. Not going to sit for any sappy silly nonsense.

So when is a rom-com not a rom-com? When there's great acting, great script, great story line, great humor, and true heart felt moments. It just goes to show how good films can be without all the formulaic drivel that is churned out year after year. This was a film where you felt for the characters, you were engrossed in the story, and as my wife said, "I didn't want it to end". Agreed. We wished it was longer with MORE humor, more plot twists, and simply more good filmmaking. Message to hollywood: take notes and make better films!

My first review ever. The only reason to watch this movie are the gorgeous scenes of Croatia. The rest is shallow, predictable and has elements of bad comedy.

The idea of a women who decides to reclaim her life after having spent 30 years in a marriage where she lost her authentic self is not a bad one though.

But the execution is poor and Netflix would better rethink the material serving to their clients.

So as I said in the begging the only reason to watch the movie are the scenes of the gorgeous Croatian island where there were shot. Or so does the plot summary says.

It might be that some other place was "playing" Croatia here. If so it did it splendidly for the Croatian coast is as gorgeous as it is portrayed here.

This is a rom com, so one cannot expect an oscar winning script or a Christoper Nolan universe.

However I found the film nicer and more relatable than usual, due to the leads being plus 45, but without stereotypes or actors/actresses who have undergone too many cosmetic surgeries.

It felt real, with the struggles of a woman who does not realise how unhappy she is until reality hits her in the face. Also the scenery was beatiful, and the fact that people talked in German, English, Croatian and with real accents, made it more real than the usual Hollywood rom coms.

I found the "Macron" reference and jokes specially funny.

This movie is so fresh and cute just real, plus funny.

The actors are great, the story is familiar but still different.

I like that it is a romance about 40+ people and is just so Croatian with jokes and the way Bogdan, as Josip behaves it is so typical but in a good way. The island is, of course, beautiful; colors, people, food, flowers and the atmosphere is very island-like.

It is just feel good, relax and have a good time movie with very good actors.

I gave it 10 because as a Croatian I'm very happy with this movie's representation of people and land usually is just klishes used for all East European countries but not this movie. Go check it out!

What a beautiful movie to watch after a work week. I'm not normally into romcoms but I enjoyed every second of this movie. The main actress, whilst not young or a Hollywood size 0, was stunning and just delightful in everyone scene. She capably carried the movie. The male romantic interest was perfect casting with his smouldering facial expression and the chemistry between the two was tangible. The biggest winner though was the scenery, it was exquisite. I had the closed captions on as the language was multilingual and it didn't affect my enjoyment. Musical score was terrific as well, great choices. A feel good movie that will brighten your day. In a nutshell, it's perfect and deserving of my score of 10.

This is a warm and welcome story for the streesed out people out there, that feels life is like being tucked in a box , being slammed with a bat out of hell. A flee from the gomorian life they call civiliced, just let loose of everything and save yourself by traveling to a place that nobody else sees, to rest and reset mind and body.

A multilingual european story that takes place at the coast of croatia in the windy season of the adriatic, opens new doors to love and ...comedy. Its a story thats loosly inspired from other lovestories made films about but this one is special. And that is basicly due to a lovely chosen cast and a very well done filmography. The main caracter is a real OI OI OI by the looks, just like the one i have on my right hand side everyday, so a refreshment for the male viewer it might be...

its all in all a throw your life over the fence and start a new one somewhere else, made in a sound of sweet reataliation and revenge, liebst du mich nicht dann steh weg. A lovely and charming story of sunset love, a must see for every romantic out there. A recommend from the grumpy old man.

What a refreshing, touching experience this movie was! I found it to be a breath of fresh air amidst the more dense slick movies these days. This was a heartfelt storyline packed with romantic scenery that showed the beauty of Croatia and reminds us of the calmer life that still exists in small villages. I also found the dialogues very humerous in an unobvious way.

The enchantment it brought reminded me of the innocense and wonder that the movie Amelie similarly had, back in the days. I found the moviescript of Faraway original, bold and yet modest in its simplicity. The actors were all perfectly cast. They showed true acting in an authentic manner. The music was perfect. Before choosing the title I did not know anything about the movie, so it was all a surprise. Maybe its different after you read the reviews, I dont know. I for one absolutely loved it and I will watch it again! Congratulations to all who contributed, you made a beautiful movie!

Thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It may seem familiar, but watch it anyway. It may have elements of stories we have all heard before, but this one has a really fun way of presenting it that is unique. It may be a comedy but there are moments that almost seen like sad, dramatic discontent - raising a lump in the throat. The location where it was filmed is pure eye candy, adding to the pleasure of relaxing and watching a great story being told from a mature point of view. I suppose at its core it may be a tale of loss and redemption, but it certainly takes some fun turns at the reality of mature relationships that are so true, and generally unspoken, the comedic moments are hilarious. This one may be a real hidden gem.

I'm not the type of person to attracted to the whole, "I have to get away to discover myself" movies. With Netflix being very hit and miss, coupled with the clichéd synopsis, the one component which compelled me to give this well-worn genre a watch was the stunning location of a Mediterranean island off the coast of Croatia. That alone was enough for me to hit play-and may I say, what a thoroughly enjoyable movie!

What surprised me first was a self-conscious, middle-aged wife climbing out of bed of a morning to quickly stuff her body into her shapewear like sausage meat before her husband woke up. This rings very true in real life but is never shown on screen. The way the scene was shot and performed had me in stitches! This was in the first ten minutes. It hooked me.

Naomi Krauss plays Zeynep; a woman barely living a life with her absentee husband, her unbearable teenage daughter, and her elderly parents. At breaking point after the death of her mother, she tears herself from her city grind to spend time in a primitive but charming cottage, high on the coastal ridge of a glorious Mediterranean Island. Completely unaware she will have to share the cottage with a gruff but internally complicated man, Josip, played by Goran Bogdan.

Zeynep and Josip have their fare share of altercations and petty feuds, which had me laughing in excess. The witty lines and the deft delivery by the two leads was nothing short of superb. The often blunt and sometimes boorish Josip is discovered to be a very generous, caring, and considerate individual. Zeynep not only discovers an appreciation for Josip and his primitive ways, she also discovers the simplest of lifestyles being the most fulfilling.

This movie is what the heart of cinema is all about. There are no starlets, no big names, no ripped actors, and no pretentiousness. Audiences are starved of small, personal, quality entertainment. Excellent screenplay by Jane Ainscough Alex Kendall. Elegantly directed by Vanessa Jopp, and outstanding, very honest performances by Naomi Krauss and Goran Bogdan. Their screen chemistry makes me want to see them together in more movies.

Whether you're alone, on a date night, or with your significant other, I definitely recommend this movie. I went from being highly skeptical to totally entertained. What a gem!

This is a very charming movie about love, loss, betrayal, and resilience. It's rare to see a movie where the main character is a middle aged woman showing all the signs of life's wear on her face and body. I feel like I really fell in love with this movie because she's so relatable. If I lived any closer to Croatia, I'd probably do exactly what she did in those circumstances. This movie is funny and amusing yet kinda sad at the same time. It may be predictable but it's enjoyable. It's filled with little nuances about life, the passing of time, and differences between the generations which will probably speak louder to those of us who are middle aged or older. Don't get me wrong though, this movie isn't sappy, it's ultimately a celebration! One line in particular made me hit the pause button so I could laugh without missing anything (that's never happen to me during a movie before). I recommended this movie to my friends, parents, and brother and they all loved it as well. On a side note, the lifestyle and friendships on the Croatian island are very accurately depicted and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking!

Lovely rom-com with tons of European diversity that's not "woke." Love the fact that she drove from the middle of a busy Germany city and slowly lose all the trappings of civilization to wake one morning overlooking paradise. Love that her mobile phone finally starts connecting in the middle of a homemade meal made on an ancient boat in the middle of the ocean. So typical of roaming when traveling. It made me appreciate the location I live (New Mexico) and how I should let go, enjoy the moment and forget the tugs of the big city.

A friend who has ties to Croatia repeatedly tells me I should visit, and after viewing this movie, I want to.... I could almost smell the lavender and sage, and jump in that beautiful blue sea.

The two protagonist have wonderful chemistry. And the locals are endearing. Fun to see from in a different country other than the usual Irish, British, Scottish small village life. Nothing fancy, just A gentle sweet rom-com for date night, girls night or family viewing.

We watched Your Place or Mine and it was awful. Being on holidays, we just wanted a happy, well done Romcom and the Kushner, Witherspoon effort just goes to show you that once you make it to the A list you have a lot of space to truly make some horrible movies. Desperate for something with substance, heart, and genuine entertainment value, we watched this.

We didn't know any of the actors, but within minutes they were believable and endearing. The female lead is wonderful and very funny. The spanx scene is hilarious and the love interest is wonderful. This will appeal to so many and for those people 40++ it will really find a place in your heart. Just watch and enjoy.

My wife and I really enjoyed this film. It's a traditional romcom in many ways but the way it's put together makes it special.

All of the actors especially the two leads are terrific. The scenery which I presume is Croatia is an absolute travelogue. Wow.

Bottom line the picture drew you in to what they were trying to accomplish. You actually cared about the characters unlike most of the films on Hallmark. We found ourselves, laughing out loud by the film's end and caring about them at the same time.

Charming little picture.

By the way, the use of 99 balloons as reoccurring theme music really worked.