Like most people around the world, I have been bound to my little island for the past few months, with nowhere to go except my living room or a quick walk here and there. Netflix proved to be the most precious subscription, offering a wide range of films and tv shows, endless entertainment, binge watching at its best. Sometimes, a film or a tv show comes up, which is based in another country, not the usual blockbuster US based films. And let me tell you, seeing and experiencing another culture, scenery and language through film, feels so refreshing. It’s almost as good as visiting another country. In a time when travel is basically unthinkable, these films and shows managed to scratch my travel itch.

The following four films and tv shows are a few of my favourite ones [the last two are not on Netflix, so you have to make a little bit of effort to find them, but definitely worth it 😉 ]

The Durrells

This is a tv show made up of four seasons, based on a book and real life events of the Durrell family – a British family living in the late 1930s who decide to resettle in Corfu. Following the death of the father, the Durrells decide to start anew on the island of Corfu. It is interesting to see how they rebuild their life from nothing, living in an abandoned house, not knowing the language or anyone on the island. It’s pretty easy to fall in love with the characters and empathise with their struggles and joys of this new life.

For me it was pretty inspiring, due to the fact that I have always thought about relocating to another country. And seeing the surroundings this family ends up living in, I cannot say that I didn’t imagine myself renovating a house by the sea, growing my own crops and just living the simple life. 

Eat Pray Love

Although this is a pretty old one (2010), it remains one of the films that I never get annoyed watching. I have also read the book and I love the author, Elizabeth Gilbert. Following her divorce, Liz decides to do a year round journey which leads her in finding herself. She picks three countries to satisfy the needs of the body, the soul and the heart – food in Italy, spirituality in India and love in Bali. 

When you read a book or watch a film which is based on a true story, it somehow strikes a chord like nothing else. When it’s an awe-inspiring story, you somehow restore your faith in us humans, acknowledging how much each individual is capable of doing. As regards the scenery in this film, there’s no words to describe it, you just have to watch it and be inspired for future trips – I know that I am 😉

Before Trilogy

This trilogy consists of three snapshots in the life of Jesse and Celine, from their first encounter to a more advanced stage of their relationship. The movies were filmed nine years apart from each other, with the first one, Before Sunrise, being released in 1995. I have only watched this trilogy now, but I can imagine the beauty of watching them gradually, as soon as they were released. It’s like you’re catching up with two friends every couple of years.

One of the highlights in this trilogy, for me, is the fact that all three movies have been filmed in different locations – Vienna, Paris and Greece. What is fascinating is that you basically witness the couple walking around the city, just talking about life in general, and wandering around these three beautiful locations. And you almost feel like you’re there with them. 

This trilogy is evidence enough that you don’t need all those special effects, to make a brilliant and captivating film. You just need a good recipe – a brilliant director, the right actors with enough chemistry between them, and an amazing backdrop – and voila, you have perfection.

Normal People

This show has become one of my latest obsessions. It is based in a small town in Ireland, and focuses on the friendship between Marianne and Connell. Ireland has always been on my list of countries to visit, but I have never managed to go. So this was a real treat. And listening to the beautiful Irish accent was a bonus.

Apart from the beautiful scenery, this is one heck of a show. The story, the acting, the production, the soundtrack – it is perfection. The story is based on the book by Sally Rooney, and even though nothing out of the ordinary takes place in this one season show, the character development as well as the progression of the friendship is so fulfilling, that you are immersed in their relationship. Once I watched the whole thing, I couldn’t stop thinking about the story, and how mesmerising it was. So I will definitely watch this again, just to relive Marianne’s and Connell’s story. 

Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything.

Sally Rooney, Normal People

Although this year has been pretty hard for everyone, at least we are fortunate enough to live in a time and place where travelling to other places, other times, other people’s stories, can be done with just a simple click of a button. And that is one of the joys in life. 

What films / tv shows have you seen that scratched your travel itch? Let me know below in the comments 😉