In this article, you find film recommendations that allow you to travel to all 27 European Union states from the comfort of your armchair. From silly to classic drama to modern-day hits, all films offer a unique perspective. All stories provide insights into the complexities and experiences of life in each EU country. These films explain socio-political dynamics, society, history, and cultural dynamics while being set on location.
What is the European Union? After the nightmare of the Second World War, the EU founded with the wish of lasting peaceful togetherness between states and peoples on the European continent, can be best described as a success story. 447.7 million people in 27 states speak 24 languages. The motto of the EU is United in diversity.
The European Union - is a group of countries that has as many rules as it has people. You are forgiven if you struggle to understand only half of them. How often do they kiss the other person's cheek when they meet? Austria is the Sound of Music. Finns are the happiest people on the planet. Why have Europeans so often been at war in the past? Which country likes to drink wine for breakfast? Do Germans ever laugh? Have French people sex at the office? Do Greeks smoke when they sleep? Are Irish, the lucky people, always searching for leprechauns? Is it true that Finns invented short message systems, so they don't have to talk to others in person?
How do Hungarians manage to speak such a tricky language? Why do so many grown-up Italians live with their mothers? Are Spaniards all arrogant? Why are Germans persistently scared of innovation? Why do Belgians love to argue? Do all Austrians live in mountain huts? Do Dutch people really smoke weed all the time and every day? Do Danes know that clothes can have another colour than black? Does every Dutch person own a camper van? Why do Italians talk so much? If Hungarians are as super romantic as they say, why do they complain so passionately about pretty much everything and everyone? Are all Swedes this liberal? Spend Polish people all their spare time reading the bible and praying in churches? Can Austrians only survive being Austrian if they look at their country with humour? Does every Dane own a different bicycle for each day of the week? Do they eat fries for breakfast in Belgium? Is the most popular dance in Greece the Sirtaki? Why are all Irish potato lovers?
Watch these films to travel through 27 EU states
Stereotypes. We all fall for them. On meeting people, we automatically pigeonhole them into that position we believe they ought to be in.
Use your own experiences, watch these films, see people as the individual they are, and unlearn your prejudices. From silly to classic drama to modern-day hits, all films offer a unique perspective. All stories provide insights into the complexities and experiences of life in each EU country. These films explain socio-political dynamics, society, history, and cultural dynamics while being set on location.
Please note - your demographic location
I do not link to streaming services, please google the film to see how you can best watch it in your home country. Not every country has the same rights and market to watch a film. As we often can't watch content when it comes from a different location, rather than linking to a dead end, I chose to not link to a film at all in this article.
Films that transport you to Austria
-The Third Man (1949). Directed by Carol Reed. A film noir set in post-World War II Vienna, following an American writer who investigates the mysterious death of his friend.
-Amadeus (1984). Directed by Miloš Forman. A biographical drama set in Vienna, focusing on the life and rivalry between composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.
-Before Sunrise (1995). A romantic drama set in Vienna, where two strangers meet and spend a night exploring the city together.
-Woman in Gold (2015). Directed by Simon Curtis. An Austrian Jewish refugee, living in the US, takes on the Austrian government to recover artworks she believes rightfully belong to her family. The artworks were stolen by the Nazis during WW2. With the help of a lawyer, she fights for her right with the Austrian art restitution board. A story about justice, eventually after decades, after the Holocaust.
More Austria? Read: Travel Austria - Pretty Places to Visit.
Films that transport you to Belgium
-In Bruges (2008). Directed by Martin McDonagh. A dark comedy-drama set in the city of Bruges, following two hitmen who are sent there to lay low after a job goes wrong.
-The Kid with a Bike (2011). Directed by brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne. A 12-year-old gets left behind at a children’s home by his father. The local hairdresser decides to take care for the boy.
-The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012). Directed by Felix van Groeningen. A heartfelt drama set in Ghent, exploring the romantic story of a couple whose love is tested when their daughter falls seriously ill.
-Two Days, One Night (2014). Directed by brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne. A drama set in Seraing, Belgium, where a woman faces a difficult choice when she learns that her coworkers have voted to let her go in exchange for a bonus.
The Brand New Testament (2015). Directed by Jaco Van Dormael. A fantasy comedy set in Brussels, which imagines God as an eccentric and grumpy writer living with his daughter in an apartment in the city.
Films that transport you to Bulgaria
-Bulgarian Lovers (2003). Directed by Eloy de la Iglesia, this Spanish-Bulgarian co-production tells the story of a young Spanish man who falls in love with a Bulgarian immigrant in Madrid. The film explores cultural differences, sexuality, and the search for freedom.
-The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner (2008). Directed by Stephan Komandarev, this heartwarming drama tells the story of a Bulgarian man who loses his memory in a car accident and embarks on a journey to reconnect with his past. The film takes you across Bulgaria and explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.
-Eastern Plays (2009). Directed by Kamen Kalev, this drama follows two brothers as they navigate their lives in contemporary Sofia, Bulgaria. The film explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and social issues.
-The Lesson (2014). Directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, this gripping drama revolves around a dedicated teacher in a small Bulgarian town who faces a moral dilemma when a large sum of money goes missing from her classroom. The film explores corruption, social inequality, and the struggle for justice.
-Glory (2016). Directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, this critically acclaimed drama follows a railroad worker who discovers a large sum of money on the train tracks and decides to do the right thing by turning it over to the authorities. The film delves into themes of honesty, bureaucracy, and the impact of moral choices.
Films that transport you to Croatia
-Fine Dead Girls (2002). Directed by Dalibor Matanić, this drama tells the story of two gay women who face discrimination and intolerance in their conservative community. The film sheds light on social issues and challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Croatia.
-The High Sun (2015). Directed by Dalibor Matanić, this award-winning Croatian film explores the complex relationships between different ethnic groups in Croatia over three different time periods. The film portrays the impact of the Yugoslav Wars on people's lives and interethnic tensions in the region.
-The Constitution (2016). Directed by Rajko Grlić, this comedy-drama revolves around the lives of four neighbours from different ethnic backgrounds living in the same apartment building in Zagreb. A film about tolerance, identity, and the challenges of living in a multicultural society.
More Croatia? Read: Travel Croatia - Rovinj - This is why you have to visit.
Films that transport you to Cyprus
-Akamas (2006). Directed by Panicos Chrysanthou, this drama focuses on the relationship between a Greek-Cypriot woman and a Turkish-Cypriot man. Is this really relevant whether one is Greek, Turkish, Muslim or Christian? The story is set against the backdrop of the Akamas Peninsula in Cyprus.
-Boy on the Bridge (2016). Directed by Petros Charalambous. Twelve-year-old Socrates' finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation. A story about a dark family secret that changes the boy's life forever.
-Smuggling Hendrix (2018). Directed by Marios Piperides. Yiannis, Greek Cypriot, and unemployed musician, is tired of life on the divided island. He wants to leave Cyprus. Shortly before the move, his beloved dog Jimi Hendrix escapes and ends up on the Turkish side. As he navigates the bureaucratic hurdles and political tensions to retrieve his pet, the film sheds light on the absurdities of the divided island.
Films that transport you to the Czech Republic
-The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). Directed by Philip Kaufman and based on the novel by Milan Kundera, this romantic drama is set in Prague during the 1968 Prague Spring. The film delves into the intertwined lives of a surgeon, his wife, and his mistress, exploring themes of love, freedom, and the weight of choices.
-Czech Dream (2004). Directed by Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda. This documentary film explores the world of advertising and consumerism in the Czech Republic. The film follows the filmmakers' experiment to create a hypermarket that doesn't exist, shedding light on the manipulation of consumer desires.
Films that transport you to Denmark
-Flame and Citron (2008). Directed by Ole Christian Madsen. Flame and Citron, two World War II Danish resistance fighters, assassinate Nazi collaborators. They execute with cold-blooded precision. The story is a fictional version of historical facts.
-Copenhagen (2014). Directed by Mark Raso. A young American travels to Copenhagen to find his estranged grandfather. Also, a film about teenage love, whereas the problem is that one of them isn't a teenager.
-The Danish Girl (2015). Directed by Tom Hooper. Danish landscape painter Einar Wegener and his wife Gerda, also a painter, lead an artistic life in Copenhagen in the 1920s. One day, Einar has to stand in as a model for Gerda and lets her portray him dressed as a woman. Over time, he is called Lili, and it becomes more than a role. Lili looks for opportunities for a surgical transition. What does it mean for Lili's and Gerda's marriage?
-A Fortunate Man (2018): Directed by Bille August. The story of the film is based on the classic Danish novel of the same name written by Henrik Pontoppidan. Per Sidenius, a young and ambitious engineer in the late 19th century moves from the countryside to Copenhagen searching for work and success. Per struggles to make sense of his life in rural Denmark and the capital Copenhagen, as he encounters social and professional challenges.
More Denmark? Read: Travel Denmark: Esbjerg - Art, architecture, UNESCO listed nature and drip coffee.
Films that transport you to Estonia
-The Singing Revolution (2006). Directed by James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty, this documentary explores the Estonian struggle for independence from the Soviet Union. How can hope be kept alive when everything is lost? Estonians used their rich tradition of singing as a peaceful resistance movement, leading to the restoration of their independence.
-The Class (2007). Directed by Ilmar Raag. A film about high school bullying. Despite heavy teenage peer pressure, one classmate stands up for the other it ends in bloodshed.
-The Fencer (2015). Directed by Klaus Härö. The true story of an Estonian fencer named Endel Nelis. Set in the 1950s, the film follows Endel as he becomes a teacher in a small Estonian town and starts a fencing club, while also dealing with the shadows of his past (with the Russian secret police).
-November (2017). Directed by Rainer Sarnet. This Estonian fairytale is based on the novel "Rehepapp" by Andrus Kivirähk. Set in a 19th-century Estonian village, the film full of werewolves and spirits brings you closer to the world of pagan beliefs, dark folklore, and love. It creates a mystical and atmospheric portrayal of Estonian rural life.
More Estonia? Read: Travel Estonia – Tallinn: Travel Guide for First Time Visitors.
Films that transport you to Finland
-The Man Without a Past (2002): Directed by Aki Kaurismäki. The story of a man who loses his memory after being beaten up and starts a second life in Helsinki. The film portrays Finnish society and topics of resilience, community, and love.
-The Unknown Soldier (2017). Directed by Aku Louhimies. Based on the novel by Väinö Linna, "The Unknown Soldier" shows the experiences of Finnish soldiers during World War II as they fight against Soviet occupation in the Far North of the country. The film is an important piece of Finnish history, telling viewers about Finnish patriotism and the harsh realities of war.
-The Other Side of Hope (2017). Directed by Aki Kaurismäki. A salesman leaves his wife and buys a restaurant. A Syrian refugee applies for asylum, and as he gets rejected, he flees. The salesman, now a restaurateur, offers the Syrian a job and a place to stay. The film shows once more how important empathy and kindness are.
More Finland? Read: Travel Finland. Rovaniemi for First Time Visitors.
Films that transport you to France
Please check out this list of Must-see French Films for armchair travels through France (plus 12 box office hits).
Films that transport you to Germany
-Good Bye Lenin! (2003). Directed by Wolfgang Becker. It is 1990. The Berlin Wall, and with it The German Democratic Republic, is gone. In East Berlin, a young man tries to protect his mother, who has just woken up from a coma, from the shock of the political changes.
-The Lives of Others (2006). Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. East Berlin in the 1980s. How do surveillance and totalitarianism impact personal lives? The Film tells the story of a Stasi agent (secret police of the GDR) who is tasked with spying on a playwright and his lover.
-Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005). Directed by Marc Rothemund. The true story of Sophie Scholl, a young student and member of the anti-Nazi resistance group White Rose. Munich in 1943, follow Sophie Scholl's arrest, her interrogation, and trial for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets.
-Goodbye Berlin (2016). Directed by Fatih Akim. The perfect road movie about wanderlust, and the search for friendship. Two teenagers, Maik the neglected rich bourgeois kid, and Tschick, the Russian-German petty criminal are outsiders who never get invited to school parties. During the summer holidays, they jump into an ancient (stolen) Lada and go east.
More Germany? Read: Travel Germany. Things to see on a walk through Nuremberg.
Films that transport you to Greece
-Zorba the Greek (1964). Directed by Michael Cacoyannis. An English writer travels to the island of Crete where his outlook changes when he meets the sociable Alexis Zorba. If you can't get hold of the film, read Alexis Zorbas by the great Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, the film is based on his story.
-A Touch of Spice (2003). Directed by Tassos Boulmetis. The amazing story of a young boy and the ethnic Greek community in Istanbul. The film explores themes of identity, culture, and the power of food in bringing people together.
-What If... (2012). Directed by Christoforos Papakaliatis. Athens, Greece during the recent economic crisis. The story about Demetrius, a 33-year-old bachelor. To make viewers wonder ‘What If’ the film tells the story from two different angles.
-Worlds Apart (2015). Directed by Christoforos Papakaliatis. The film weaves together three interconnected love stories set against the backdrop of the Greek economic crisis, exploring themes of love, loss, and resilience. Three distinct stories unfold, each representing a different generation of Greeks in love with an immigrant, each story coming together in the end to form a whole.
-Cloudy Sunday. Ouzeri Tsitsanis (2015). Directed by Manousos Manousakis. The Greek title of the film is 'Ouzeri Tsitsanis' a bar named after the Greek songwriter and bouzouki player Vassilis Tsitsanis who lived and worked in Thessaloniki during WW2. The film is the story of Thessaloniki's Jewish community while Thessaloniki is occupied by Germany. As Giorgos, a Christian boy falls in love with Estrea, a Jewish girl, their families have to overcome brutal racial discrimination and difficulties. 46,091 Jews from Thessaloniki were deported to concentration camps. 1.9050 survived.
-Maestro in Blue. Written and directed by Christopher Papakaliatis. Greece ends its Covid lockdown measures and opens up again. A musician (Christopher Papakaliatis, who is also an actor) travels to the Greek island of Paxos to organize a music festival. Part murder mystery, thriller, and love story, it is also a film about music. Maestro tells a compelling story that contains an array of important topics of our times. Stunning cinematography. Beautiful scenery. Wonderful soundtrack.
More Greece? Read: Travel Greece. Day Trips to UNESCO World Heritage Sites near Athens.
Films that transport you to Hungary
-Kontroll (2003) - Directed by Nimród Antal. A fictional film about ticket inspectors, a killer, and passengers on the Budapest underground.
-White God (2014). Directed by Kornél Mundruczó. Meet Hagen the dog and his friend, young girl Lili. All is great until Lili’s father abandons Hagen on a street corner. Set in Budapest, it explores themes of discrimination and rebellion as a pack of abandoned dogs riots against humans.
More Hungary? Read: Travel Hungary. Unesco World Heritage sites, Ruins, Restaurants and Coffee Shops in Budapest.
Films that transport you to Ireland
-The Wind That Shakes the Barley" (2006). Directed by Ken Loach. In 1920, rural Ireland is a brutal battlefield. Two brothers join the army to fight for independence from the UK.
Once (2007) Directed by John Carney. The journey of an Irish busker and a Czech immigrant who form a bond through their shared love of music is breathtakingly gorgeous. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won the Oscar for Falling Slowly (Best Song. Best Original Song).
-Brooklyn (2015) Directed by John Crowley. An Irish immigrant who moves to Brooklyn, New York, in the 1950s is forever torn between her new life in America and her homeland in Ireland.
-The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Directed by Martin Mc Donagh. It is 1923. Pádraic Súilleabháin, a friendly guy who lives on Inisherin, visits his best friend every afternoon for drinks and chats. One day his best friend lets him know that their friendship is over and that every time he tries to talk to him again, he is going to cut off one of his own fingers.
More Ireland? Read: Travel Ireland: 40 places to visit on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Films that transport you to Italy
-Roman Holiday (1953). Directed by William Wyler.
the classic romantic comedy with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Follow a princess,
who escapes her royal obligations, and an American journalist as they roam
through the eternal city.
-The Great Beauty (2013). Directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Jep Gambardella, journalist, and theatre critic, has for decades celebrated the lavish nightlife of Rome, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks for a life outside of nightclubs and parties.
-Gomorrah (2008). Directed by Matteo Garrone. The
cruel and brutal corruption of the Neapolitan Mafia dominates Italian society.
Five interwoven stories tell about the complex relationships people have with
the Camorra.
More Italy? Read: Travel Italy - A Guide to the Island of Elba.
Films that transport you to Latvia
-The Mover (2018). Directed by Dāvis Sīmanis. Germany invaded Latvia during WW2 in the summer of 1941. This is the true story of a Latvian dock worker who is placed in a job at a factory in Riga together with Jews forced to work. He starts hiding Jews in a basement. The dockworker saves 40 Jews during the German occupation of Latvia, fully ignoring all risks involved for him and his family.
-Grandpa More Dangerous than Computer (2017) Directed by Varis Brasla. Young Oskar spends too much time on his computer. For a sea change, his parents sent him to spend time with his grandparents during the summer. After many struggles with his eccentric grandpa, where it appears that he is actually more dangerous than the computer, they end up being best friends.
More Latvia? Read: Travel Latvia. Riga Guide for First Time Visitors.
Films that transport you
to Lithuania
-The Other Dream Team (2012). Directed by Marius A. Markevičius. The incredible story of the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team. Lithuanian athletes struggled under Soviet rule since they were forced to compete for the Russians. When Lithuania was liberated from Russia, after fifty years, in the spring of 1990, they were able to raise their own flag at the sports event and with that became symbols of Lithuania's independence movement.
-The Excursionist (2013). Directed by Audrius Juzenas. When after World War II, Europe was divided into two parts, the Baltic States were occupied by Russia, and with that Lithuania became part of the Soviet Union. Human life hadn't much value to Russians. In the 1950s, hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians were deported to gulags (corrective labour camps for 'opponents of the regime') in the Soviet Union. This is the true story of a young girl who escapes from a train of mass transports and goes on a 6,000 km long journey back to her homeland.
More Lithuania? Read: Travel Lithuania. Vilnius Guide for First Time Visitors.
Films that transport you to Luxembourg
-Gutland (2017). Directed by Govinda Van Maele. A mysterious stranger arrives in a small Luxembourgish village and gets involved in the lives of its residents.
-Baby(a)lone (2015). Directed by Donato Rotunno. A coming-of-age drama about two teenagers. Knowing already far too much about violence, drugs, and pornography, they grow up too fast and become a couple.
Films that transport you to Malta
-Simshar (2014). Directed by Rebecca Cremona. When their boat, the Simshar, sinks, a fishing family becomes stranded at sea. Their story echoes the one of African migrants trying to get from Africa to Europe. The film tells the story of young Theo who is shipwrecked on a boat trip with his family and finds himself in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
-Limestone Cowboy (2017). Directed by Abigail Mallia. Karist runs for office to save his country and soon becomes a national superstar. The whole of Malta watches his journey to the top in amazement. A story about what is needed to make it in politics.
-The Malta Story (1953). Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst. World War 2 in 1942. German and British troops fight over the island of Malta. A strategically important hub for troop movements. Flight Lieutenant Peter Ross, assigned to enemy surveillance, falls in love with a local girl and must deal with the resulting complications.
Films that transport you to The Netherlands
-Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Directed by Guy Hamilton. Some scenes of this film with Sean Connery as James Bond are set in Amsterdam.
-The Fault in Our Stars (2014). The romantic drama film is based on the novel by John Green and tells the story of two teenagers who meet and fall in love while dealing with their cancer diagnosis. They travel to Amsterdam. The film is as sad as reality sometimes is.
-Black Book (2006). Directed by Paul Verhoeven. There is nothing left to lose for Jew Rachel Stein. There is nowhere to hide, and her family is dead. She joins the Dutch resistance and infiltrates the German National Socialists as a mole trying to liberate a group of resistance fighters.
-Tulip Fever (2017). Directed by Justin Chadwick. In the 17th century, Amsterdamers were crazy for tulips. When an artist, commissioned to paint a woman, who is newlywed falls in love with his model the drama unfolds.
-A Noble Intention (2015). Directed by Joram Lürsen. In 1888 Amsterdam, two locals stubbornly refuse the offers of powerful businessmen who intend to drive them from their house to build the luxurious Victoria Hotel in its place.
More Netherlands? Read: Travel the Netherlands – Ten places that are beyond beautiful.
Films that transport you to Poland
-Son of Saul (2015). Directed by Hungarian László Nemes. A day and a half in the life of a Jewish-Hungarian prisoner and member of a work unit in a concentration camp in Auschwitz. He works in a crematorium and wants to give a proper burial to a young boy he sees amongst the dead.
-Ida (2013). Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. A young novice nun about to take her vows discovers her Jewish heritage and family history in 1960s Poland.
-Cold War (2018). Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. The love story between the musical director Wiktor and singer Zula, begins in post-war Poland. They love each other and are repeatedly driven apart by politics and yet they cannot break away from each other. Love in the times of the cold war.
-The Hater (2020). Directed by Jan Komasa. The power of social media. A sociopath who gets kicked out of university for plagiarism uses social media and chat rooms to spread fake news, to manipulate user behaviour and to organize smear campaigns that destroy careers, and eventually lead to the assassination of a politician and members of his campaign team.
More Poland? Read: Travel Poland. See, Eat, Think and Sleep in Gdansk and Sopot.
Films that transport you to Portugal
-Night Train to Lisbon (2013). Directed by Bille August. A Swiss teacher Raimund Gregorius of classical languages rescues a Portuguese woman from taking her life. As she runs away, she leaves behind her coat and a book. He quits his job and travels to Lisbon in the hope of discovering the fate of the author, a doctor and poet who fought against Portuguese Dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar.
-Our Beloved Month of August (2008). Directed by Directed by Miguel Gomes. At the height of summer in the heart of Portugal. In the mountainous region around Arganil, people hunt for wild boar, play hockey, fight forest fires, jump off bridges, organize processions, make fireworks, celebrate, and sing and dance. The film features popular local bands and hits, and gradually mixes facts and fiction.
The Gilded Cage (2013). Directed by Ruben Alves. Portuguese Maria and Jose have been living for three decades on the ground floor of a building in Paris. They play a vital part in the other residents' lives. When they plan to return to their motherland Portugal, their neighbours do everything they can, to make them stay.
-April Captains (2000). Directed by Maria de Medeiros. The story of the April Revolution of 1974 that overthrew the 48-year long dictatorship. A film that talks about Portugal's recent history and reminds viewers that freedom should never be taken for granted.
More Portugal? Read: Travel Portugal. Complete Walking Guide to the Capital Lisbon.
Films that transport you to Romania
-The Way I Spent the End of the World (aka How I celebrated the End of the World) (2006). Directed by Cãtãlin Mitulescu. Set in Bucharest during the final years of communism, the film tells the story of a teenage girl's experiences as she navigates life in Romania under the dictatorship.
-12:08 East of Bucharest (2006). Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu. A comedy set in the small Romanian town of Vaslui. A journalist looks for people who actively took part in the revolution and the roles they played in it. The revolution started in Timisoara on 12 December 1989. As the residents discuss events it becomes apparent that everybody shares very different memories.
-4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007). Directed by Christian Mungiu. A powerful drama set in the final years of communist Romania, following two university students as they are arranging an illegal abortion.
-RMN (2023). Directed by Christian Mungiu. A film about racism and anti-immigrant sentiments. Romania, a country that has been free from communism for only a short time, and happily accepted help from other countries now has massive problems with helping others facing the same problems they had. The film asks the question why Romania can’t open up their community to people from elsewhere.
More Romania? Read: Travel Romania - Places to visit in Timisoara.
Films that transport you to Slovakia
-Candidate - Kandidát (2013). Directed by Jonas Karasek. This political thriller tells the story of scandals and corruption in Slovakia.
-The Line (2017). Directed by Peter Bebjak. A thriller about a guy who smuggles cigarettes from Ukraine to Slovakia. He is a father and a gangster and lives comfortably in both worlds until a new border in the High Tatras mountains of the Schengen area creates unforeseen problems for his illegal endeavours.
-Let There Be Light. (2019). Directed by Marko Škop. A film about families, love, friendship, racism, the rise of the extreme right in Europe. When a teenage boy kills himself, parents discover that their son and the victim were members of a paramilitary youth organisation.
More Slovakia? Read: Travel Slovakia. Bratislava Guide for First Time Visitors.
Films that transport you to Slovenia
-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). Directed by Andrew Adamson. Some scenes from the film were shot in the picturesque surroundings of the Soca Valley in Triglav National Park in Slovenia.
-9:06 (2009). Directed by Igor Sterk. A victim's body is found. His body is completely shaved, and his watch stopped at 9:06. A police officer becomes entangled in the victim's life and affairs. As the story unfolds it becomes clear why.
More Slovenia? Read: Out of Slovenia. Glamping in rural Slovenia. Chateau Ramsak.
Films that transport you to Spain
-The Sea Inside (2004). Directed by Alejandro Amenábar. The film brings you to Galicia and tells the real-life story of Ramón Sampedro. The Spanish ship mechanic was left quadriplegic after a diving accident. He fought for almost three decades for the legal right to end his own life.
-Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Directed by Guillermo del Toro. In this dark fantasy film, a young girl faces the horror of fascism. The director's unique storytelling style shows the brutal impact war has on children.
-Volver (2006). Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film set in Madrid, tells the tumultuous story of a working-class family. Raimunda endures her difficult life without complaints. She works hard to support the family. When her husband rapes her 14-year-old daughter, she kills him to protect herself. Raimunda finds a way to dispose of the body but also has to deal with the reappearance of her dead mother.
-Biutiful (2010). Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. In Barcelona, a single father of two children manages life as a criminal to make ends meet when he finds out he is terminally ill with cancer.
-Love at First Kiss (2023). Directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azua. Javier discovers he has this gift to foresee the future and to know whether he met the love of his life, after just one kiss. And as it turns out it is the girlfriend of his very best friend.
More Spain? Read: Travel Spain –Menorca Guide forFirst Time Visitors.
Films that transport you to Sweden
-Fanny and Alexander (1982). Directed by Ingmar Bergman. This film is a beautifully filmed family saga. It is about freedom and love and the restrictions set by Christianity. A fabulous family of four, the father dies, the mother marries an abusive and cruel bishop. This film will stay with you for a long time.
-Sune’s Summer (1993) Directed by Stephan Apelgren. A Swedish family goes on a camping trip in Sweden since their originally planned vacation in Greece seemed to be too expensive. Some Swedes say this film feels like a documentary about life in Sweden.
-A Man called Ove (2015). Directed by Hannes Holm. 59-year-old Ove is a grumpy man who keeps an uninvited close watch over his neighbourhood. He sets strict rules. When a new family moves in next door everything changes. A film about love and friendship, and about accepting that cultural differences between cultures exist, good, bad, right, and wrong without judging them.
-Becoming Astrid (2018). Directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen. Astrid Lindgren spent a carefree childhood on a parish farm in Sweden in the 1920s. As she starts to work as an intern at a newspaper, she gets pregnant from the publisher. She decides to keep the baby, unmarried and creates a life of her own. This is the story of how Astrid Lindgren became the woman, famous writer, and icon she is.
You next trip to the European Union
History is present in all films. These films help you to find your way around the complexity of European Union countries. You will find yourself a bit closer to the 447.7 million people. Think about all the ones who call the EU home and about their different backgrounds and stories. Understanding and reliving past historical events makes your next trip to and through Europe an even greater adventure. And don't forget, have fun on your next trip to Europe.
From Berlin with love