A Faraway Land (2021)

A Somewhat Realistic Love Story That Almost Works

How often do people go through life believing that the grass is always greener somewhere else? And very often, we find that a new place only brings about new pros and cons.

As someone who's lived and worked in six countries, I know this truth only too well. Places always have new and interesting things that you find appealing, and things that you miss. This is even true of the country you come from. In short, it's a no-win scenario...so long as you continue to believe that there is something better over the next hill, instead of learning to simply appreciate where you are.

Majhoy is a young Filipino woman who has moved to the Faroe Islands. She is married, has a young daughter, and works two jobs, including an Asian Restaurant/Food Truck. It turns out that there are a number of Filipino women living there...mostly for economic convenience. "Love? What is that?!" one of them jokes.

Nico is a young man who is a producer of documentary films. He visits the Faroe Islands to find out more about why so many Filipino women move and live there. It doesn't take long before he focuses solely on Majhoy. It takes even less time to realize that they have feelings for each other.

Majhoy's husband is a significantly older man. And despite his slight brusque demeanor, it's obvious that he loves his wife. He doesn't mistreat or abuse her.

It becomes obvious that Nico will do anything to take Majhoy back to the Phillippines; ignoring Majhoy's marriage or even the welfare of Lena, Majhoy's daughter. He can only see his own wants and needs. He naively believes that it is that simple to swoop in, disrespect a living situation, and make off with Majhoy.

Unfortunately, Majhoy makes the mistake of capitulating and even giving Nico some sense of hope that his dreams will be fulfilled. It isn't until Majhoy's husband returns from his fishing trip that she realizes that all-in-all, she has a husband who loves and cares for her. Both characters behave selfishly and disrespectfully which makes them unsympathetic and easily unlikeable.

In the end, the one person you feel the most sorry for is Sigmund (Majhoy's husband). The writers try to make you feel sorry for Nico and Majhoy but their selfish, underhanded lack of respect for anyone else makes that difficult. Why? Because it is impossible to be happy while hurting others. It just doesn't work. One's true happiness never comes at the expense of anyone else.

The movie is beautifully filmed in the Faroe Islands. The islands, indeed, look like something out of a fairy tale. I wouldn't be surprised if tourism gets a boost after people see this film. I certainly would like to visit!

The performances are also very good from the entire cast. But if you're going into this film, hoping for a romantic, uplifting love story, you won't find it here. In many ways, the story is too real for that. A big reason that the story doesn't fail is because the writers stayed true to the situation and the characters rather than "give in" to make a "happily ever after" ending. Much like the Faroe Islands themselves, the film leaves you cold and desolate, but true given the reality of the situation.

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"Weeklong romance"

The casts did well. If you are looking for romance, this isn't the film for you. The movie explores some ordinary scenario of Filipinos living abroad. They leave home, misses it, had a glimpse of the old home (through the people they meet), succumbs to temptation, but in the end, faces reality. For me, Majhoy did not really feel the 'romantic emotion', but more on the feeling of missing her old home, the Philippines. She met Nico, reminisced the Filipino tradition, the Filipino hospitality, the Filipino bond. Nico had mistaken the giddiness of Majhoy everytime they are together as love. However, the reality is that: Since the start, Majhoy had chosen her future, her life, and that is in Faroe.
Overall, the movie depicts the truest, most realistic scenarios in such circumstances.

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