Faraway is a Netflix original multilingual romance comedy that was directed by Vanessa Jopp. The plot of the film, which is set on a little Croatian island, centres on Zeynep Altin, a miserable Munich resident whose family consistently takes her for granted. Zeynep leaves her city life behind when her mother dies and leaves her a house in Croatia. She expects to find a fresh viewpoint and a solution to her problems there, but instead she meets Josip Cega, a grumpy, argumentative man. Zeynep navigates the unfamiliar Croatian waters of living on the same property as Josip while attempting to prevent the disintegration of her former life. She rediscovers happiness in the process and sees life from a fresh perspective. Here are some suggestions for you if you liked Zeynep’s transformational journey prompted by a mid-life crisis and are yearning for similar heartwarming stories about self-discovery. The majority of these films, including “Faraway,” are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu!
Bread And Tulips (2000)
Silvio Soldini is the director of the Italian romantic comedy “Bread and Tulips”. Rosalba, played by Licia Maglietta, travels with her family but finds that they have abandoned her. Rosalba makes the independent decision to travel to Pescara on her own, but along the road she unexpectedly settles in Venice. Rosalba likes her newfound independence and makes new acquaintances in Venice. Those who enjoyed “Faraway” will enjoy “Bread and Tulips,” which has a lighthearted plot and intriguing characters. Rosalba, the lead character in this film, and Zeynep are similar in that they are both likeable personalities who are treated unfairly by their families yet discover happiness in unexpected places.
Brooklyn (2015)
The historical drama “Brooklyn,” starring Saoirse Ronan, is set in Ireland and New York in the 1950s. This John Crowley-helmed romantic drama is an adaptation of Colm Tóibn’s novel of the same name. A clever young woman named Eilis Lacey visits New York in search of better opportunities. She meets Tony there and falls in love with him as she gains her independence. Eilis’ homesickness lessens as she spends more time in New York, and her bond with Tony grows stronger. Nevertheless, when she needs to fly back home, the stability she had discovered in New York with Tony is swiftly put to the test. She meets Jim there, and now she must choose between her two possible futures.
In “Faraway,” a midlife crisis is discussed, while in “Brooklyn,” a coming-of-age story is told. Although the two films have certain similarities, they are nevertheless sufficiently diverse to stand out. Give “Brooklyn” a shot if you enjoyed the topics and concepts presented in “Faraway” but want to see a fresh perspective on them.
Eat Pray Love (2010)
“Eat Pray Love” is the biography of Elizabeth Gilbert, and it is based on her memoir of the same name. Julia Roberts plays the lead in this Ryan Murphy romance drama, which depicts the tale of a new beginning through a romanticised prism of worldliness. Elizabeth Gilbert decides to leave her husband and embark on a vacation to Italy, India, and Bali after discovering the extent of her sadness. She discovers a fresh perspective on life and the fulfilment she had been seeking in each location. ‘Faraway’ and ‘Eat Pray Love’ both focus on finding happiness through escape. The two main characters in each film likewise go through similar events. They both eventually manage to rediscover happiness in their lives.
Juanita (2019)
The drama ‘Juanita,’ directed by Clark Johnson, is based on Sheila Williams’ book ‘Dancing on the Edge of the Roof. The story of “Juanitalead “‘s character, played by Alfre Woodard, is followed. Alfre is a mother to three children, all of whom have messed up their life in some way. Juanita chooses and then departs for a random city in Montana because she is exhausted and in desperate need of a break. There she has the chance to start again and find happiness with fresh acquaintances. Both Juanita and Zeynep experience a midlife crisis, which is resolved by a change of environment. The self-discovery tale “Juanita” tells features a fulfilling character journey for the lead character.
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
George C. Wolfe’s romantic drama “Nights in Rodanthe” is based on the Nicholas Sparks book of the same name. It is a deeply moving tale of love and second chances that stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Adrienne’s life has suddenly descended into disarray. She is a recently divorced mother of two. She meets Jack, the only guest in the inn, when she promises to check on her friend’s inn for a bit. The two become closer and finally fall in love as they spend time together when a storm is occurring. Zeynep and Adrienne from “Nights in Rodanthe” are strikingly similar to one another. Both characters struggle to overcome turbulent prior marriages and tense interactions with their teenage daughters.
Paris Can Wait (2016)
Eleanor Coppola makes her feature film directorial debut with the romantic comedy “Paris Can Wait”. The narrative centres on Anne, who finds herself driving Jacques, her husband’s business partner, on an impromptu road trip to Paris. Anne and Jacques discover each other while travelling through France, enjoying the beautiful scenery, delectable cuisine, and good company. The protagonist in this film, like the one in “Faraway,” questions her marriage as a result of new experiences before ultimately finding contentment.
Puzzle (2018)
The Marc Turtletaub film “Puzzle” is based on the same-named Argentine film. This drama is around the life of Agnes, a housewife, and how she reinvents herself after discovering her affinity for solving puzzles. The film, which stars Irrfan Khan and Kelly Macdonald, centres on Agnes as her character develops throughout the narrative. In ‘Puzzle,’ the lead character discovers confidence and agency in her independence and learns to enjoy life to the fullest, much like the heroine in ‘Faraway. Also, the romance subplots in both books aid Zeynep and Agnes in their quests for self-awareness. This movie will be entertaining and worth seeing because of its general lighthearted but dramatic tone.
Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
Audrey Wells’ romantic comedy “Under the Tuscan Sun” features Diane Lane and Sandra Oh. Frances’ idyllic life begins to fall apart after learning about her husband’s extramarital affair. Frances, who lost her home as a result of her divorce, is persuaded to travel to Italy by her closest friend Patti since she is stuck in a depressive mood. She makes a snap decision to buy a charming villa she discovers there. She meets new people and has new experiences as she starts her new life in Tuscany and renovates her villa. In the end, she rediscovers happiness, just like Zeynep from “Faraway Frances” did.
The core premise and the funny yet moving storytelling in the two films have a lot in common. Both Zeynep and Frances leave their previous lives behind and find happiness in fresh starts. If you like the picturesque and sincere plot of “Faraway,” you should add “Under The Tuscan Sun” to your list of must-see movies.
