Fabulous docu-film. An honest insight into life as an expat across all demographics and a true reflection of the often misunderstood life and culture of the middle east. Balanced, beautiful and entertaining.
19 Reviews
Quirky, fun, beautiful
docvml11 July 2022
A must watch
louiseawbaird14 May 2022
Happy I saw this film.
analuvallejo27 December 2022
Fairways to happiness is a film with a very creative narrative. I loved the use of golf as an analogy of life, with its ups and downs, challenges and rewards, sometimes alone, sometimes in company. The photography is beautiful, with contrasting views of cities and nature. The melody is very nice and a perfect complement to the different scenes. This film truly inspires reflection, and invites to see life through other peoples eyes and perspectives. I really enjoyed it and would see it again. I strongly recommend it if you like philosofic films, if you are a golf player, or simply want to spend a happy moment.
What an enjoyable experience!
jmcomo18 November 2022
Funny, thought provoking, and some heart from a film following expats some struggling and some striving to "break 80" golfing in Dubai. The country's community of expats is diverse and deserving of this deep dive. And along with the experts questioned in the making of this film, together they offer a unique and one of a kind tableau that even gets the viewer questioning what they are struggling towards or striving for. Only Director Douglas Morrione's unique voice could bring such seemingly disparate themes and topics together in such a thoughtful, charming, and overall funny documentary. Even if you have never stepped foot on a golf course or visited the UAE, this movie may not inspire you to such endeavors but it will inspire in you something greater.
Touching and Inspiring
mmada-1887815 May 2022
Fairways to Happiness was a wonderful combination of humor and insight. Doug interviewed residents that are a true cross-section of what makes up the ex-pat community in the UAE. A must-watch fun movie of heartwarming and inspiring personal stories.
Fun, Thought Provoking and Well Made
gabehonig10 November 2022
Funny? Yes! Insightful? Absolutely. Thought provoking? Indeed!
Doug Morrione's meditation is an easy watch that flies by but the themes and topics stay with you long after the final credits. In a world where people often look no further than their own bubbles this is a much watch.
Crafted using Doug's unique point of view, the editing provides laugh out loud moments, the story is thought provoking and we see a world that hasn't been explored much in film. Doug seeks the answer to an eternal question, and while I believe he answers if for himself, like any well made film the question lingers in the viewer's mind (and in a heated debate with his spouse on the couch) after the film ends.
Doug Morrione's meditation is an easy watch that flies by but the themes and topics stay with you long after the final credits. In a world where people often look no further than their own bubbles this is a much watch.
Crafted using Doug's unique point of view, the editing provides laugh out loud moments, the story is thought provoking and we see a world that hasn't been explored much in film. Doug seeks the answer to an eternal question, and while I believe he answers if for himself, like any well made film the question lingers in the viewer's mind (and in a heated debate with his spouse on the couch) after the film ends.
Engaging and informative
pbeeman-741572 December 2022
Doug Morrione has done us a great service by bringing to the screen a snapshot of life in Dubai, as the film explores what happiness means to a diverse group of individuals. The inclusion of experts in education and in science, such as Dr. Martin Seligman and his theories of positive psychology, provide balance to Eugene's goal of mastering his score on the golf course.
An added bonus was the beautiful photography of the area as well as some insight in the day-to-day life of ex-pats living in a "borrowed" land. The film is both timely and appropriate---as well as amusing!--for the times in which we live.
An added bonus was the beautiful photography of the area as well as some insight in the day-to-day life of ex-pats living in a "borrowed" land. The film is both timely and appropriate---as well as amusing!--for the times in which we live.
Happiness is contagious
lgale-5510810 July 2022
I found myself reviewing my own thoughts on happiness. Thought provoking, humorous, well done. The filmography and all those serial shots so well done. All in all I really enjoyed the film and probably learned a few more golf term words. That interviewee definitely has a good outlook on life and his golf game.
A Really interesting film
blackwaterduncan16 May 2022
Excellent Film/ Documentary. Laugh out loud funny in parts, but also very thought provoking and insightful.
This is a film that will make you think and ask questions about happiness, contentment, and ones direction of travel thgrough lifes journey.
Loved it!
This is a film that will make you think and ask questions about happiness, contentment, and ones direction of travel thgrough lifes journey.
Loved it!
The side of Dubai no one talks about
ayotography11 December 2022
Despite all of the glitz and glamour of Dubai, real people do live in the city. This documentary really captures a Dubai life that is rarely seen or discussed.
The film followers a golfer trying to crack the Jebel Ali Beach Hotel Golf Course. At the same time, the film intertwines the various characters that make up the daily Dubai life and asks the ephemeral question about "What is Happiness?"
The film grabs people from across the globe to give their first hand opinion with regards to happiness. From Nepal.to the UK, the film stages the various nationalities in Dubai.
Expat life can seem pretentious in Dubai, but Doug Morrione does a great job to show a true view of this life.
The film followers a golfer trying to crack the Jebel Ali Beach Hotel Golf Course. At the same time, the film intertwines the various characters that make up the daily Dubai life and asks the ephemeral question about "What is Happiness?"
The film grabs people from across the globe to give their first hand opinion with regards to happiness. From Nepal.to the UK, the film stages the various nationalities in Dubai.
Expat life can seem pretentious in Dubai, but Doug Morrione does a great job to show a true view of this life.
A testament to happiness in the UAE!
mejpospsy20 November 2022
This is not only a good film about subjective wellbeing, lie satisfaction and philosophical views on what makes people happy, it's also a great insiders view of the United Arab Emirates and its national mandate around happiness. Worth it on so many levels as both the country as well as the topic are not the usual conversation starters for most people. This is good watching for a university class in positive psychology as it broadens the view of happiness and includes a range of cultural views as well as national perspectives all from the UAE. Makes you think and consider your own definition of happiness right alongside it... Enjoy!
Well done and unique insights for "what is happiness"?
austinblairvideo16 May 2022
The film was very well done and director Douglas Morrione does a really nice job weaving together his personal experience with the expertise and insights of others around the idea of finding happiness. The film depicts many perspectives from around the world with a common thread centered around life in Dubai, UAE. Covering heavy topics around what brings us happiness in life, what it means to pursue said happiness, with lots of comic relief found on the golf course. Definitely a thought provoking must watch documentary.
Amazing film
oliverimpey15 May 2022
A story well woven!
jrm-5969620 May 2022
A wonderful blend of comedy, pearls of wisdom, nuggets of joy, and truly meaningful stories. It really is a must see! It weaves a beautiful story about happiness, it's attainability and what each character perceives happiness to be. The formula for happiness is self concocted, and this films creator explores several in a comical yet personal way. Incredibly well done and beautiful to watch. Bring a notepad for all the wisdom imparted and tissues to wipe away the tears from laughter!!
Insightful, entertaining, and fun!
kbrcfrc20 May 2022
An excellent movie exploring interesting accounts on personal and general happiness. You really get a touch of everything - comedy, enlightenment, clarity on what's truly important - and bonus, you actually walk away happy!! I enjoyed this movie and would seriously like to see it again. Lighthearted, yet truly in depth. Not many can pull this off well...the creator has done so expertly.
Insightful
ojaddou16 May 2022
A really enjoyable documentary that examines the concept of happiness and the struggle to attain it that is perhaps one of the few issues that is common to all humans across the globe. The setting of Dubai makes it easier for the documentary to find a diverse set of people to interview and their different takes on what happiness is as a concept and how they determine whether or not they are happy in their own lives is well juxtaposed against input from credible experts and authority figures and metaphorically against the golfing struggle of the star of the show, the endearing English gentleman Eugene!
Really recommend watching this!
Really recommend watching this!
Thought provoking, funny and true
soniakerrigan17 May 2022
It is a joy to watch the film weave together such an eclectic group of stories into one. Thoroughly entertaining the Fairways to Happiness passes by in a flash but leaves a lasting impression.
My friends and I are still talking about the concepts and challenges it presented whilst laughing at some of the very witty editing and quips from the golfing scenes.
At times genuinely moving I was very pleased that my children got to see this. Happiness, our relationship with it, the varied perspectives... the film contains valuable lessons for the young and well timed reminders for those of us who may not be as 'happy' as we should be.
My friends and I are still talking about the concepts and challenges it presented whilst laughing at some of the very witty editing and quips from the golfing scenes.
At times genuinely moving I was very pleased that my children got to see this. Happiness, our relationship with it, the varied perspectives... the film contains valuable lessons for the young and well timed reminders for those of us who may not be as 'happy' as we should be.
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