How to turn a movie into a vacation itinerary?
May 15, 2006 2:12 PM Subscribe
How can I find out what Barcelona locations were filmed in the 1999 Pedro Almodovar movie All About My Mother?
Almodovar's cinema is a definite inspiration for visiting Barcelona this summer. Even beyond the storytelling and narrative, his films have an arresting visual style -- warm vibrant tones, so contrasting they're almost kitschy. All About My Mother was shot on location in Madrid and Barcelona. I'll be in Barcelona soon and would love to visit the same churches, streets, alleyways, train stations, whatever, as featured in the film.
Is there a way to find out what these real places are?
Almodovar's cinema is a definite inspiration for visiting Barcelona this summer. Even beyond the storytelling and narrative, his films have an arresting visual style -- warm vibrant tones, so contrasting they're almost kitschy. All About My Mother was shot on location in Madrid and Barcelona. I'll be in Barcelona soon and would love to visit the same churches, streets, alleyways, train stations, whatever, as featured in the film.
Is there a way to find out what these real places are?
Sorry, I got swept up in the question and overlooked that you're visiting Barcelona only, not Barcelona and Madrid. Most of my answer still stands, at least.
posted by veggieboy at 2:57 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by veggieboy at 2:57 PM on May 15, 2006
I credit that movie and another one, L'auberge Espagnole for sparking my interest in Barcelona. There's a marked lack of information on the shooting locations for Todo sobre mi madre, but I did come across some location information in this article about 7 or 8 paragraphs in (Tibidabo hill, the towers of Sagrada Familia and Raval are mentioned), and I can remember reading that some scenes were shot on/near the beach in Barceloneta, and that the cemetery scene was shot somewhere on the west side of Mont Juic.
Almodovar's use of color and different patterns was just gorgeous. He's a brilliant filmmaker. You should check out L'auberge Espagnole too, by the way - lots and lots of gorgeous Barcelona locations there!
posted by mewithoutyou at 11:02 PM on May 15, 2006
Almodovar's use of color and different patterns was just gorgeous. He's a brilliant filmmaker. You should check out L'auberge Espagnole too, by the way - lots and lots of gorgeous Barcelona locations there!
posted by mewithoutyou at 11:02 PM on May 15, 2006
Well, in the film, when Manuela first gets to Barcelona, there's the Temple de la Sagrada Família, the cathedral-like building Manuela sees from the taxicab. The temple, originally designed by Gaudí, is still being constructed (although whether it's being built according to his plans is the subject of some controversy) and it's a must-see.
It would seem that Manuela's friend Agrado lives in an apartment directly opposite the Palau de la Música Catalana, an absolutely gorgeous concert hall with the lively and colorful façade seen from Agrado's window. Nice flat, that.
As veggieboy notes, there's the Hospital del Mar, which is in Barceloneta, an old fishermen's neighborhood just southeast of the old part of town (the Barri Gótic). All hospitals ought to have views like that one does.
I've been trying to figure out where the cemetery is located. I think it must be the Cementiri de Sud-Oest on Montjuïc, but I don't know for sure. Looks like a good visit anyway.
You can also check this MeFi link for things to do in BCN...
Hope you have a great trip!
posted by fredzo718 at 11:11 PM on May 15, 2006
It would seem that Manuela's friend Agrado lives in an apartment directly opposite the Palau de la Música Catalana, an absolutely gorgeous concert hall with the lively and colorful façade seen from Agrado's window. Nice flat, that.
As veggieboy notes, there's the Hospital del Mar, which is in Barceloneta, an old fishermen's neighborhood just southeast of the old part of town (the Barri Gótic). All hospitals ought to have views like that one does.
I've been trying to figure out where the cemetery is located. I think it must be the Cementiri de Sud-Oest on Montjuïc, but I don't know for sure. Looks like a good visit anyway.
You can also check this MeFi link for things to do in BCN...
Hope you have a great trip!
posted by fredzo718 at 11:11 PM on May 15, 2006
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the help! L'auberge Espagnole is on the to-do list. Our vacation apartment is near the Palau de la Música Catalana and I'm sure with a bit of wandering around the city, I can recreate any Almodovar landscape, real or imagined.
From what I hear about Raval, it's almost the equivalent of NYC's dirty-hipster Williamsburg? In any case, it's the place I'm most likely to run into the transvestite junkies Lola and Agrado from the movie... can't wait!
posted by milkdropcoronet at 6:29 AM on May 17, 2006
From what I hear about Raval, it's almost the equivalent of NYC's dirty-hipster Williamsburg? In any case, it's the place I'm most likely to run into the transvestite junkies Lola and Agrado from the movie... can't wait!
posted by milkdropcoronet at 6:29 AM on May 17, 2006
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Nearby is the Hospital del Mar, another location from the film.
That's all I can think of at the moment.
Also, if you're interested in other Almodóvar movies, here (in Spanish) is a list of sites in Madrid (it's at the bottom, scroll down).
It might be worth asking at the tourist information centers in both cities. I'm sure you won't be the first one to ask -- they might be able to mark off some places on a map for you.
posted by veggieboy at 2:54 PM on May 15, 2006