Barcelona has been the location chosen to shoot numerous films, some of them starring and directed by international stars. Many have chosen to show their most touristic and Gaudí-like settings. Others have opted for less typical places. And then there is the unusual case of REC, with which we begin our review. If you are a movie lover and you are planning a getaway to Barcelona, this post interests you.
REC
Did you know that number 34 of Rambla Catalunya is a point of pilgrimage for lovers of horror movies from all over the world? The culprit for this is the director Jaume Balagueró, who chose this building to film his successful zombie movie in 2007. The most curious thing about this building is that, even though it is in the heart of Barcelona, no one lives in it, something that contributes to the mystery
EVERYTHING ABOUT MY MOTHER
Without a doubt, Pedro Almodóvar is one of the Spanish directors with the most international projection. In 1999 he chose Barcelona to shoot the film that would end up giving him an Oscar. Emblematic images of the city such as the Columbus monument are combined with scenes filmed in less touristy places such as the Montjuïc cemetery.
THE PASSENGER
None other than Jack Nicholson, under the command of Michelangelo Antonioni, toured some corners of the city in 1975 in search of an arms dealer. Among others, his character, who was staying at the Hotel Oriente de Las Ramblas nº45, passed through the Parque de la Ciutadella, la Pedrera or the Palau Güell (C / Nou de la Rambla 3).
PERFUME
Although technically the city where the plot takes place is Paris, Tom Tykwer recreated the French capital in Barcelona for his 2006 adaptation of Patrick Süskind’s bestseller. Thus, for example, the Laberint d’Horta park is transformed into the gardens of a mansion and the bicentennial Herboristeria del Rei (at C/Vidre 1, next to Plaça Reial) into a perfume shop.
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Woody Allen landed in the Catalan capital in 2008 to shoot this comedy starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz. The plot takes place in places like the legendary modernist restaurant Els Quatre Gats, the Fundació Miró or the MACBA.
BEAUTIFUL
Although the Mexican Alejandro González Iñárritu wanted to show the grayer face of the city, he did not forget to give us a panoramic view from the Turó de la Rovira, one of the quintessential viewpoints of Barcelona that offers a 360-degree view of the city, nor of stroll along the beach in this film about immigrants from 2010.
L’AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE (A HOUSE OF MADMEN)
Cédric Kaplisch achieved great success in 2006 with the adventures of Xavier, a French Erasmus student in Barcelona. In addition to the tourist scenes repeated in other films, the theme favored several locations within the historic building of the University of Barcelona (300m from Ako Suite). In the film, the protagonist also got on the cable car of the Port.
THE MACHINIST
Although he appears to be in California, director Brad Anderson whisked Christian Bale up to the Tibidabo amusement park to ride him on a witch train in this 2004 psychological thriller.
HAYWIRE (UNTAMABLE)
Steven Soderbergh assembled a star cast – Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum – for this 2010 spy film in which we can see Gina Carano in a fast-paced chase through the streets around Plaça Royal.
THE LAST DAYS
Of course there are many Spanish films filmed in Barcelona but this apocalyptic film from 2003 by the Pastor brothers offers us a totally different vision that allows us to see scenarios such as the Arc de Triomf or Via Layetana totally deserted.
HUNT THE KILLER
Sean Pean stars in this 2015 spy film directed by Pierre Morel that culminates in the Plaza de Toros Monumental (although the images of the bullfight had to be recorded in Madrid as Barcelona is an anti-bullfighting city).
MANUAL OF LOVE
This 2005 Italian romantic comedy shows us scenarios such as Avinguda Icària, Plaça Sant Jaume, the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica or the Parc de l’Espanya Industrial.
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