Movie Capitals: On Location In... Rio de Janeiro

Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro
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One of the most famous cities in South America, Rio de Janeiro is unmistakable even to the novice traveller. Its unique skyline – with rustic neighbourhoods seeming to rub shoulders with more modern architecture, all backed by stunning forested mountains – makes it unlike any other location on the planet. Unsurprisingly, the city has drawn the interest of movie studios, who use aerial panoramas and shots of its iconic landmarks to signal that the heroes of the silver screen have arrived in an exotic location. From secret agents to street racers, mob bosses and even vampires, numerous iconic film characters have taken to the bustling streets of Rio. Here are some of the most famous sites that have hosted magical cinema moments, all of which you can see for yourself.

By Victoria Luxford

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Parque Lage (The Expendables, 2010) – Visitors to Rio can get a taste of the life of a ruthless military leader (to each their own, we guess) by walking through the picturesque Parque Lage, a private residence that became a public park in the 1960s. Its grounds – particularly the eye-catching mansion – were used as the base for General Garza (David Zayas). Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and pals blow the mansion up, thanks to ingenuity and some special effects, but it is still very much standing and open to visitors for some Instagram-worthy pictures and relaxing walks. Incidentally, The Expendables were not the only stars to film at Parque Lage: the music video for Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful” was shot there.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Grumari Beach (City of God, 2002) – One of the few tender moments in this hard-hitting Brazilian masterpiece comes on the idyllic Grumari Beach, where Rocket and Angélica (Alexandre Rodrigues and Alice Braga) spend some time alone together. The beach is located in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, and is a sight to behold. Those looking for the real-life City of God (Cidade de Deus) will be surprised to know that Fernando Meirelles’s film actually wasn’t shot there! At the time it was considered too dangerous, and the production was filmed in the neighbouring favelas. However, many of the amateur actors cast in the film were actually from Cidade de Deus.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Cable Car Lift, Sugarloaf Mountain (Moonraker, 1979) – Arguably the most high-concept film of Roger Moore’s 007 adventures, Moonraker saw the smooth secret agent head out to space – but before that, he faced off with old foe Jaws (Richard Kiel) atop the cable car lift to the city’s impressive Sugarloaf Mountain. Opened in 1912, the cable car takes visitors to the summit of the mountain from Praia Vermelha, stopping at Morro da Urca along the way. It’s a fantastic way to take in views of the city and to visit its highest point, nearly 400 metres above the harbour below. Thankfully, it’s unlikely you will be accosted by metal-toothed henchmen.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Morro da Babilônia (Elite Squad, 2007) – This hillside favela is the setting for the record-breaking police task force thriller, though in recent years the neighbourhood has become gentrified and is a popular area for tourists. The location offers wonderful views of the city, as well as attractions such as Mural Babilônia, a mosaic created by artists and volunteers from around the world. Fans of classic cinema may also be interested to know that the area was used in the filming of French-Brazilian film Black Orpheus, a 1959 romantic tragedy that has been cited as an influence by figures like Barack Obama and Parasite writer-director Bong Joon-Ho.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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The Central Bank of Brazil (Fast & Furious 5, 2011)

Rio de Janeiro was central to the fifth instalment of this cars-and-crime franchise, the film that elevated the series to the behemoth it is today. The movie was even titled ‘Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist’ in many countries. Rio plays a big part in the plot, although not everything set in the city was shot there. The favela chase scenes were filmed in San Juan, while other US locations filled in for minor scenes. Much of the real Rio is there, however, and one location visitors can actually stop by is the Central Bank of Brazil, on Avenida Presidente Vargas. The building serves as the base of operations for the film’s villain, Herman Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida).

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Estação Central do Brasil (Central Station, 1998) – As the title of this ‘90s award-winner might suggest, the city’s main travel hub has a big part to play. It’s where lead Dora (Fernanda Montenegro, whose performance scored her a Best Actress Oscar nomination) works and strikes up a unique friendship with a young boy (Vinícius de Oliveira) through tragic circumstances. Lovers of the movie will find the hustle and bustle of the station very familiar, plus connections with the Rio de Janeiro subway mean visitors can fit in a bit of movie location spotting on their way to another adventure. Enthusiasts can even use the transport links to find other locations in the movie, as the characters travelled to Northern Brazil.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Rocinha Favela (The Incredible Hulk, 2008) – Believe it or not, Edward Norton’s 2008 take on The Incredible Hulk is, in fact, a part of the universe that led to last year’s Avengers: Endgame. This action-packed movie is part of the same world that the Avengers’ Hulk lives in, only with Norton replaced by Mark Ruffalo in later movies. The beginning of the film is set in Brazil, where Norton’s David Banner is lying low, working in a factory. A chase scene was filmed in Rocinha, the largest favela in the city and located in its southern zone. The area is also briefly featured in Fast & Furious 5, and said to have inspired a map in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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The Whole City! (Rio, I Love You, 2014) – The third part of the Cities of Love series of films, Rio, I Love You is a collection of ten shorts that prominently feature many of the city’s iconic landmarks. While the film wasn’t well received upon its release, it is nevertheless a stunning showcase for the varied locations and atmospheres of Rio, seen through the eyes of famous Hollywood stars including Harvey Keitel, Emily Mortimer and John Turturro. Our favourite is Keitel’s segment, in which a famous American tourist encounters a boy who is waiting for a phone call from Jesus.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Copacabana Palace (OSS 117: Lost in Rio, 2009) – Now called Belmond Copacabana Palace, this six-floor luxury hotel is considered one of the best in South America. Mixing iconic architecture with the nature and vibrancy of the coastline, it has always been a magnet for the rich and famous – and travellers with deep pockets can have their own star experience, facing Copacabana Beach. Movie lovers may recognise it from the French film OSS 117: Lost in Rio, where Oscar winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) plays a suave 1960s secret agent in the French spoof franchise, currently filming its third movie due for release in 2021.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Lapa (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1, 2011) – Many film shoots figuratively bring a town to a standstill, but the first part of the Twilight finale literally ensured the Lapa neighbourhood in central Rio was deserted for the evening. Shooting a sequence where Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) are on their honeymoon, the studio paid the town and its residents a great deal of money to stay indoors for the evening, shuttering all businesses and keeping out paparazzi who were keen to get a glimpse of filming. You may find your visit a little bit livelier, particularly in the evening when music and classic architecture mix, and the nightlife is vibrant.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro.
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Copacabana Beach (Rio, 2011) – Ok, so the 2011 family hit was not exactly filmed in the city, what with it being, you know, animated. That said, the film’s director, Carlos Saldanha, is a native of Rio, and many have commented on the accuracy of the film’s animated city locations, including the famous Copacabana Beach. Younger travellers, or people who just love their animated movies, may get a kick out of seeing the real sights from this tale of romance between two rare birds, which paved the way for a 2014 sequel and is said to be one of the reasons Pixar abandoned its 2012 project Newt, which had a similar theme of love between endangered species.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Rio de Janeiro

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