Before moving to a new city or going on a trip to a different country, we like to read novels about the place we are about to explore. And also, movies filmed there to get an idea of the atmosphere, lifestyle, culture… So specially for those of you who still keep “Barcelona” on your bucket list, here we share some of the movies filmed in Barcelona to get to know the city before leaving home.
And in case you already live here, you will easily identify some of the most iconic spots (and also the ones which are not that famous).
Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona
Director: Woody Allen
Year: 2008
Synopsis: Two women, Vicky and Cristina, go on a trip to Barcelona to spend the Summer holidays with their friend Judy. Their paths will cross with Juan Antonio’s in an art exhibition, and from that encounter they all will live new adventures.
Iconic places that appear in Vicky, Cristina Barcelona
Well, the movie begins with the most iconic one: the Sagrada Familia. It’s the first place they visit after landing in the city, a starting point to discover Gaudí’s architecture. Because following the Sagrada Familia, another iconic monument awaits, La Pedrera and Park Güell. Beyond the iconic architect, they will also explore museums like the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya or the Fundació Joan Miró. Not to forget other historical places like the Els Quatre Gats café or the beautiful Plaça Sant Felip Neri, the setting for a dinner of the protagonists. And the amusement park Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo as the setting for a double date!
Todo sobre mi madre
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Year: 1999
Synopsis: We had to include PE-DROH on this list. He is probably the most recognized Spanish cinema director! And one of his iconic movies has Barcelona as one of the main scenarios. Definitely one of the most iconic movies filmed in Barcelona.
With the movie Todo sobre mi madre Pedro Almodóvar won the Oscar for best movie in foreign language. The film centers on Manuela, a nurse and single mother to Esteban, a teenager who wants to be a writer and is actually writing his novel “Todo sobre mi madre”. While chasing after actress Huma Rojo for her autograph after a performance in a theater, Esteban is hit by a car and killed. Manuela quits her job and will start a journey to Barcelona in hopes of finding her son’s father, a transgender woman who never knew Manuela was pregnant with his son.
Places in Barcelona that appear in Todo sobre mi madre
Through the taxi in which Manuela travels, the viewer is introduced to the city with its most iconic monument: the Sagrada Familia. And from there, one after another, emblematic places of the city will follow. Among them, the Palau de la Música, the Via Laietana, the Teatre Tívoli…
L’auberge espagnole
Director: Cédric Kaplisch
Year: 2002
Former international students in Barcelona might relate with the main character in this story. Xavier, French economics student, who decides to move to Barcelona to spend a year studying abroad. And besides living a new and fun experience, Xavier will have mixed feelings: homesickness, cultural shock, difficulties to communicate in Spanish… To those who have lived abroad: does this situation of mixed feelings ring a bell? ;-)
Also, this is a great movie to discover places, culture and lifestyle in Barcelona without moving from the couch. This movie also has two sequels: Les poupées russes (2005) and Casse-tete chinois (2013).
Places in Barcelona that appear in l’Auberge Espagnole
And to reflect this international student experience in Barcelona, there are many scenes in the movie: Park Güell, Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya, la Barceloneta… A different way to discover the city, without moving from the couch!
Barcelona nit d’estiu
Director: Dani de la Orden
Year: 2013
And we couldn’t end up the article without including a Catalan production, so here it is: Barcelona nit d’estiu. Six crossed love stories taking place in Barcelona on August 18th 2013 at night. The night when Comet Rose crossed the city with a unique show that won’t happen again until several centuries from now. A romcom movie with Barcelona as the main scenario that we can’t help but include it on the list ;-)
And after these recs of movies filmed in Barcelona to watch at home, what about watching a movie IN Barcelona? There are many beautiful VO cinemas in the city! Here are our favorite VO cinemas in Barcelona