5+ beautiful movie recommendations for the Mediterranean on screen: What's new, streaming now, old favourites and the classics.
We’ve just had over a week of winter rain in the Med. Perfect for getting cozy with some home cinema. I found some fantastic, I’d-not-yet-seen, films set in the Med that take your breath away.
While I have always loved Mediterranean film classics like To Catch a Thief (1955 - Cary Grant, Grace Kelly), Journey to Italy (1954 - Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders) and everything Bond…
This indulgent journey into a new world of Mediterranean films started with Call Me by Your Name, which came up on my Netflix feed. It was such an unexpected and beautiful find, that it got me thinking about what other Mediterranean-set film gems were to be found.
Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art?
Watching these beautiful films I had to pinch myself, that yes, I now live here. Is life in the Med every bit as magical as we see on the screen? Well….yes! The Mediterranean lifestyles displayed in these films paint a pretty accurate picture of what I am discovering.
While each film tells its own unique story, collectively, they highlight some of the core elements of Mediterranean living: a love of food, the beauty of the landscape, the relaxed pace of life, and the deep connection to nature, history and tradition.
Explore these filmmakers’ interpretations of the Mediterranean lifestyle for your next movie night!
Here are 5+ Beautiful Movie Recommendations, all set in the Mediterranean
5 New Med Movie Finds
Call Me by Your Name (2017) – Lombardy, Italy
Stealing Beauty (1996) – Tuscany, Italy
The Taste of Things (2023) – Provence, France
That Good Night (2017) – Alentejo, Portugal
Shirley Valentine (1989) – Mykonos, Greece
My NEW FINDS
Call Me by Your Name (2017) – Lombardy, Italy
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
This movie exudes the warm, laid-back vibe of the Italian countryside. Sweeping shots of lush landscapes, a beautiful Italian villa, long summer days, and relaxed atmosphere mirror the unhurried pace of life in the Mediterranean. The relationships are fluid and passionate, with an undercurrent of nostalgia and an appreciation for sensory pleasures: food, music, and nature. It is a soulful anticipation of summer in the Med.
Filmed on location in: Crema, Bergamo, Lombardy region, Northern Italy.
Click on photo below to Watch the Movie Trailer:
Stealing Beauty (1996) – Tuscany, Italy
Starring: Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, Donal McCann, Sinead Cusack
Tuscany’s natural beauty and its association with art and culture are displayed brilliantly in this film. The Mediterranean lifestyle here is about artistic expression, connection with nature, and a rich sense of history. There’s a focus on the simple, rustic pleasures of life—long conversations over wine, the allure of the countryside, and deep personal exploration. This film makes you want to fill up the summer calendar with visiting friends and family to enjoy the Med together!
Filmed on location in: Tuscany’s countryside, around Siena, & Castello di Ama.
Click on photo below to Watch the Movie Trailer:
The Taste of Things (2023) – Provence, France
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, and Jean-Pierre Darroussin
This film is for foodies! It is all about the Mediterranean obsession with food, flavour, and the connection between the land and the table. There is exquisite gastronomic artistry in this film through the preparation and enjoyment of French cuisine, and associated rituals. The films takes us on a journey with French chefs, en Provence, and provides a window into the secrets of what makes French cooking divine: quality over quantity, simplicity over excess. This film inspired me to add some cozy French stew recipes to my Med table this month: pot au feu, coq au vin, and bouillabaisse…
Filmed on location in: Provence, France
Click on photo to Watch the Movie Trailer:
IMDb
That Good Night (2017) – Alentejo, Portugal
Starring: John Hurt, Charles Dance, Samantha Morton, Naomi Battrick
This film is full of the lush coastal landscapes of the Mediterranean, complete with beach holiday fantasies of palm trees, Yucca trees and wide sandy beaches - as seen from the main character’s dreamy white washed villa. The film offers an introspective look at Mediterranean life, focusing on a man coming to terms with his mortality, connection to family, community, and legacy. The slow rhythms of rural Portugal are reflected beautifully in this film.
Filmed on location in: Alentejo, Lisbon and the Algarve (region in southern Portugal)
Click on photo to Watch the Movie Trailer:
Shirley Valentine (1989) – Mykonos, Greece
Starring: Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Bernard Hill
This film find was my biggest surprise! It is not a new film, but its sharp wit, and celebration of reinvention and freedom make time stand still. It has been said that this film contributed to the popularity of Mykonos, (pre-Scorpios beach club), as a Mediterranean paradise. This film is about liberation, where the protagonist seeks to reconnect with herself amid the beauty and simplicity of Greek island life. I was both laughing out loud and feeling a deep connection to the freedom of the Mediterranean while watching this film.
Filmed on location in: Mykonos, Greece
Click on photo to Watch the Movie Trailer:
My OLD FAVs
In case the above list of new finds gets you hooked on Med Movies, here are a few more set in the beautiful Mediterranean…
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - Italy
Starring: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow
Up at the Villa (2000) – Italy
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn, James Fox, Jeremy Northam
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) – Spain
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz
Before Midnight (2013) – Greece
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick
A Bigger Splash (2015) – Italy
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts, Dakota Johnson
Movies & the Mediterranean I New Finds, Old Favs and the Classics
These films are not only visually stunning but also transport us to some of the most beautiful and iconic locations in the Mediterranean. The locations play a crucial role in conveying the mood, tone, and sense of place, immersing us in the landscape and lifestyle of each region.
Like painters and writers before them, filmmakers have long been drawn to the sparkling clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea and warm climate of southern Europe. Endless cinematography opportunities in the region’s incredible brightness and sun-soaked days, tumbling cliff-sides and lush countryside, has provided cinematic allure from the silent era to the present day…
Stoking up the fire, and grabbing my popcorn for the next rainy day in the Med...
Share your favourite Med Movies in the comments below!
Jade
Lewon
Med
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