History-Saving Cinematography And Film Locations In Poland
How The Movie
Industry Saved Film Locations In Poland
Wondrous castles, quaint
architecture, and impressive nature, all await filmmakers. And by that, we mean
that film locations in Poland cover a wide variety of filming needs. So, on one
hand, we can easily say that Polish backdrops can save filmmakers from a lot of
trouble. But could it happen the other way around too?
The movie industry does take
advantage of the telegenic features of old or new buildings. And that can
sometimes be the salvation of monuments otherwise left to crumble. It is the
case for the Ogrodzieniec Castle, featured in the Netflix hit series, The Witcher (2019). This picturesque
castle (or better said, its ruins) had an epic appearance in the series. That
was all it took for the world to turn its eyes towards it. Tourism spiked in
the area, as more fans wanted to see for themselves the real shooting set. And
this worked like magic for the 600-year-old ruins.
Another place rich in history,
but on the verge of falling to the ground is the Orthodox church in Kniazie. It
dates back to the end of the 18th century and is near the border with Ukraine.
After appearing in the movie Cold War
(2018), more than the eyes of the locals began caring for its future. The
movie’s success fueled the hopes of turning the church into a tourist
attraction.
As film locations in Poland turn
into popular destinations, they get a chance to survive. May the odds be in
their favor, we say.
A Surprisingly Versatile Polish Film Location
Finding a location to substitute
harder-to-access areas of the world can be a real blessing. And throughout the
years, filmmakers have learned to appreciate them. Among the most telegenic
film locations in Poland, one truly stands out. Unexpectedly or not, the way it
does that is through its versatility.
We are talking about Wrocław, a
city that substituted so many other European cities in multiple films. Various
international productions relied on its architecture to charm on film. In I, Olga Hepnarová (2016), the city got
used as a replacement for Prague. But wait, there is more. Steven Spielberg
found Wrocław as Berlin’s best substitute, for his Bridge Of Spies (2015). Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War (2018) also relied on this city to stand in for the German
capital.
Mamoru Oshii found this Polish
city ideal for a dystopian arena needed for his movie Avalon (2001). But if you think this is all, then you should know
this city is the “capital of metamorphosis” in terms of movie sets.
The action of Mike van Diem’s Character (1997)
was all set in 1920s Rotterdam. But this Oscar-winning film was also shot in,
you guessed, Wrocław.
