Fairways to Happiness

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.