The diverse terrain of Montenegro is an absolute dream for any location scout, from rugged mountain ranges to idyllic coastlines, this country is truly a scene stealer. Over the past few decades Montenegro has provided a backdrop to films and TV series produced by top studios and starring the film industry’s elite.
Taking a look at five examples of films featuring Montenegro as one of their locations, we will also explore just what is its appeal?
5 movies shot in Montenegro
Papillion
Michael Noer’s 2017 remake Papillon, is the perfect example of how multifaceted Montenegro can provide the setting for many scenes in just one movie. Papillon stars Charlie Hunnam as the wrongly imprisoned Frenchman Henri Charrière and Rami Malek as the counterfeiter Louis Dega. Charrière was sent to the Devil’s Island penal colony in 1933 and together with the help of fellow inmate Dega, successfully escaped in 1941.
From the very start, the fortified Old Town of Kotor is given centre stage. Shooting around the coast, the production team chose the island fortress of Mamula to replicate the almost inescapable Devil’s Island in the film. The stretches of Ulcinj’s sandy beaches were also used as dupes of a South American-style coastline. Inland locations included the serene Skadar Lake and the old fortress of Montenegro’s second largest city, Nikšić.
Force 10 from Navarone
The sequel to the 1961 film The Guns of Navarone, Force 10 from Navarone, was set around the impressive Đurđevića Tara Bridge over the Tara Canyon. The plot of the film centres around a mixed band of military experts who are tasked to destroy a bridge in order to thwart an enemy attack during WWII.
The Đurđevića Tara Bridge experienced a fate similar to the storyline of the 1978 film. One of the bridge’s engineer’s, Lazar Jauković, was ordered to blow it up in order to prevent the invading Italian army from crossing during WWII. Luckily, the bridge was expertly damaged in such a way that it could be repaired later. With the threat of invasion over, the damaged section of the Đurđevića Tara Bridge was then reconstructed in 1946.
As Force 10 from Navarone follows the military unit on their mission through what was once Yugoslavia, the film was also shot in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica, then known as Titograd. Rijeka in neighbouring Croatia and Jablanica Dam in Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina also feature in the film.
The Brothers Bloom
Released in 2008, this comedy-caper about two con-men brothers was shot entirely in Eastern Europe. Directed by Rhian Johnson, the film follows two siblings as they plot and scheme their way through life. The younger brother Bloom eventually grows sick of the elder’s scheming and they part. After going their separate ways, the brothers, played by Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo, are reunited in Montenegro, where Bloom is roped into carrying out one final con. Their target is a wealthy heiress, Penelope (Rachel Weisz).
The con leads them to Mexico, which is not in fact where the production team shot the movie. Instead, Ulcinj’s Long Beach was used as its Eastern European stand-in. It is easy to see how location scouts saw potential in this soft sandy beach that stretches on for miles and miles. Velika Plaza, as it is known locally, is very different to the smaller coves, fishing villages and pebbled beaches further up Montenegro’s coastline, and due to its versatility, draws in the film crews.
Minamata
Minamata (2020) directed by Andrew Levitas is an autobiographical drama about the American photographer W. Eugene Smith and his life changing trip to Japan. Smith, played by Johnny Depp, travels to Minamata, Japan to document the effects of mercury poisoning on the local citizens and in so doing uncovers the consequences of corporate greed.
The film, also starring Bill Nighy, Minami Hinase, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase and Jun Kunimura was shot across Montenegro, Serbia and Japan. The port town of Tivat found itself home to approximately 200 cast and crew members who descended on the region prior to filming. Locations for filming included Tivat’s The Island of Flowers, also known as Miholjska Prevlaka, the abandoned Župa complex and Kalardovo Beach.
The November Man
The coastal town of Herceg Novi hosted the production team of 2013’s spy thriller The November Man. Pierce Brosnan, of James Bond fame, plays the lead role of Peter Devereux and finds himself faced against his former pupil on the cobbled streets of Herceg Novi.
Other locations include the picturesque town of Perast, overlooking the Bay of Kotor, which steps in as a substitute for Lausanne, Switzerland. The November Man featured the idyllic Sveti Stefan as a backdrop and some scenes were also shot in Belgrade, Serbia.
Speaking of Bond, how could we forget Daniel Craig’s first outing as the titular spy in the film franchise. Montenegro is mentioned as the setting for the infamous poker game against the villain LeChiffre. However in true Bond fashion, all is not what it seems. Unfortunately, Casino Royale (2006) is a red herring, with locations in Czechia and Italy acting as stand-ins for mythical Montenegrin places that have never existed.
Why Montenegro?
Why is Montenegro the perfect place to shoot a film? First of all, when schedules are tight, travelling from one location to the next takes a toll on timelines and budget. The beauty of Montenegro is that it is so compact, that within the space of three hours you can make your way from the mountains to the coast.
Secondly, the diversity of the landscapes are reason enough. Montenegro’s stunning coastline to its awe-inspiring mountain ranges means that this small but mighty country can stand-in for pretty much anywhere. From the Italian Riviera to the Rocky Mountains, Montenegro can transport your audience all over the world, if you are an imaginative enough location scout.
Thirdly, the four centuries of Venetian influence in Kotor’s Old Town have left a definite mark. So much so that Kotor is a perfectly preserved backdrop for period dramas set during the 15th and 16th centuries. Montenegro’s examples of ancient architecture allows filmmakers to effortlessly step into the past, using the country’s rich historical resources.
Will Montenegro continue to be a prime location for filming?
To round up this review of the films featured in Montenegro, it wouldn’t be permissible to conclude without mentioning what the future has in store. There are many reasons why Montenegro should continue to be seen as a hotspot for location filming, adding to these the fact that the country has not been overused by global film industries. For filmmakers looking for fresh new locations, Montenegro should be top of their wish-lists.
The official programme of the film centre of Montenegro, “Film in Montenegro” is working to encourage foreign filmmakers and TV production companies to consider Montenegro as a contender for their upcoming shoots. As Montenegro continues to emerge as a prominent player in the film industry, the possibilities for creative expression and economic growth are boundless, making it an exciting time for both the country and the international filmmaking community.