The movie White Bird is directed by Marc Forster, and it expands on the story of Wonder which was a famous movie from 2017. White Bird is based on R. J. Palacio’s graphic novel called White Bird: A Wonder Story, which came out in 2019. This movie is both a prequel and a sequel to Wonder. It takes the audience to the year 1942 during World War II. The story is about a young Jewish girl named Sara Blum, who tells her story of surviving in Nazi-occupied France. Sara is saved by a boy named Julien Beaumier, who has polio and a paralyzed leg. They hide together in a barn and slowly fall in love, even though they are in a very dangerous situation.
Where was White Bird filmed?
The filming of White Bird took place in different places across the Czech Republic, which is a country in Central Europe. Some of the main filming locations include Prague, Kutná Hora, and Hrádek nad Nisou. The team also filmed in rural areas like Štampach, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Kolešov, and Hýskov. The movie was filmed between February 2021 and April 2021. Let’s look at the different filming locations in detail.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, and it is a very important filming location for White Bird. The movie studio used for shooting indoor scenes was Barrandov Studio, located in Prague. This studio is one of the biggest in the country and has been used for many famous movies. In White Bird, the French city backdrops are filmed here. The studio has sets that look like old cities, such as Paris from the 14th century and London from the 19th century.
The outdoor forest scenes were filmed in the Brdy forests, which are located southwest of Prague. The forest scenes show Sara and Julien getting close while hiding from danger. The Brdy forests are also popular with hikers, as the trails are challenging and have pretty cottages along the way.
Liberec, Czech Republic
In the movie, we see a beautiful castle, which is actually Grabštejn Castle located in the Liberec district. This castle is very old, built in the 16th century, and sits on a hill. The castle represents the school where Sara and Julien go to in the movie, before the German soldiers take over. The castle adds a historical and grand feel to the scenes.
Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
The town of Kutná Hora, which is known for its historical Gothic buildings, was another important filming location for White Bird. One of the main buildings is St. Barbara’s Church, a big Gothic church famous for its flying buttresses and beautiful frescos. The old streets and medieval buildings of Kutná Hora made it the perfect place to show what Nazi-occupied France looked like in the movie.
Other Villages in the Czech Republic
To show the countryside scenes in White Bird, the filmmakers went to small villages like Štampach, Kolešov, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, and Hýskov. These villages are located near Prague and provided beautiful rural backdrops for the movie.
Kolešov is a small village in the Rakovník District, and it has very pretty, peaceful surroundings that are shown in the film.
Svatý Jan pod Skalou is a village in the Beroun District, set in a rocky valley. The cliffs and greenery of this area made the movie scenes look more magical and visually interesting.
Filming Challenges and Blessings
Director Marc Forster shared in interviews that he expected many challenges while filming in the Czech Republic. He had heard that it was usually very cloudy, making it hard to film outdoor scenes with sunlight. But surprisingly, every time they needed sunshine, the clouds would go away, and the sun would shine just at the right time. After shooting the scene, the clouds would return. Forster and his team felt that they were lucky and blessed to have such perfect weather for their movie about hope and love.
In conclusion, the Czech Republic provided a mix of city, countryside, and historical locations to bring the story of White Bird to life. The beautiful and unique filming spots helped the movie show the struggles and the love story of Sara and Julien during World War II.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – White Bird
Q: Where was White Bird (2024) filmed?
A: White Bird was filmed in various locations across the Czech Republic, including the capital city of Prague, Kutná Hora, and Hrádek nad Nisou. Some rural scenes were shot in villages like Štampach, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Kolešov, and Hýskov. Barrandov Studio in Prague was also used for indoor scenes and city backdrops.
Q: When was White Bird filmed?
A: Filming for White Bird began in February 2021 and was completed by April 2021. The movie was shot during this period, mostly in the Czech Republic.
Q: When is the release date of White Bird (2024)?
A: White Bird (2024) was released on October 4, 2024.
Q: Is White Bird connected to Wonder?
A: Yes, White Bird is both a prequel and a sequel to the 2017 movie Wonder. It focuses on the story of Sara Blum, who is the grandmother of Julian Albans, a character from Wonder.
Q: Who are the main cast members of White Bird?
A: The main cast of White Bird (2024) features some well-known actors. Helen Mirren plays the role of older Sara Blum, while Ariella Glaser plays young Sara Blum, showing her journey as a Jewish girl during World War II. Bryce Gheisar plays Julien Beaumier, a boy with polio who helps Sara hide from the Nazis. Orlando Schwerdt portrays young Julien, and Gillian Anderson plays Vivienne Beaumier, Julien’s mother. Together, the cast brings to life the emotional and powerful story of love and survival during a very difficult time in history.
