Arka Mukhopadhyay
‘Us’ is a romantic tragicomedy drama miniseries directed by Geoffrey Sax and created by David Nicholls from his eponymous book. Oscillating in time and space, the story follows the Petersen family. The marriage of Douglas and Connie Petersen is dwindling. Connie feels the love between them has waned with time. But she still agrees to take the trip that she and Douglas previously planned. Thus begins a grand family tour, chronicling across bustling urban centers of modern Europe.
Going to the past, the story sees the inception of the unlikely love, as the young scientist Douglas meets his wife to be. Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves take up the contemporary versions of the characters, and Tom Taylor plays the role of their angsty son, while Gina Bramhill and Iain De Caestecker play the couple’s younger versions. The main attraction of the series is the majestic cities that are portrayed on screen, and if you seek to know more about the filming, let us be your guide.
BBC’s Us Filming Locations
‘Us’ was filmed across locations in England, Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Filming took place in 2019 across a time of roughly three months. The list itself sounds overwhelming, and putting that on screen was understandably a daunting task. The production crew was divided into four teams who were filming simultaneously in four separate locations.
One can only fathom the logistical challenge the production team must have encountered! However, they managed to get into some iconic locations which were closed to the public for the production. Let us now give you a detailed tour of all the filming locations.
London, England
The show is produced by BBC, and understandably, London served as a production hub for the cast and crew. A great deal of filming was carried out in London, especially in the western part of the capital city. The crew visited the National Gallery, an art museum in central London near Trafalgar square in the city of Westminster.
If you plan to visit, you will be awestruck by artistic masterpieces from the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, and Claude Monet. The story goes back in time to see how Douglas falls in love with Connie. The past sequences were mostly filmed in the city. The crew also went to Buckinghamshire to film a few important sequences.
Barcelona, Spain
The crew also filmed in the historic city of Barcelona, a modern metropolis in the Catalonia region of Spain. Planned and expanded by Ildefons Cerdà, and home to the titular football club, Barcelona is one of the most coveted destinations for Europe-lovers.
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A few scenes were also filmed inside Joan Miró Foundation, another art museum showcasing the artistic brilliance of Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miró. The museum sits atop the mountain of Montjuïc. The shooting also took place at Vic, the central city in Osona in the province of Barcelona.
Paris, France
In the grand tour, the family also visits Paris, the enchanting City of Lights. And there is a saying: when in Paris, you must go to Louvre. The crew was lucky to be able to film inside rooms of the world’s largest museum of art, located at Rue de Rivoli in the heart of the city. For art enthusiasts, Louvre is the museum that shelters the Mona Lisa, the mysterious maiden pained by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.
Venice, Italy
It has become quite a tour already. But a few important scenes were filmed in Venice, the city of gondolas and lost poets. The filming process was tedious, as the creator himself expressed, “…few words are more chilling for a production team than ‘Exterior. Venice. Night’.”
In the show, Venice serves as the backdrop where Douglas encounters a Danish traveler named Freja. The production team filmed in the dimly lit lanes by the canals, cafes, taverns, and bistros, capturing the vibrant essence of the city. A major important sequence was filmed in the Gallerie dell’Accademia, a major art gallery and museum located at Campo della Carità on the southern side of the Grand Canal.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Lastly, the director and his crew visited the city of Amsterdam, without visiting which the tour of Europe remains incomplete. Yes, Amsterdam it is. The team was elated to film in Rijksmuseum, a museum of national importance, located at Museumstraat 1 in the Museum Square in the city. For connoisseurs of art, this place is a potential treasure trove.
Read More: Is Us Based on A True Story?
