Naman Shrestha
Originally titled ’23 000 Leben,’ Netflix’s ‘23,000 Lives’ is a German drama movie directed by Markus Goller. Based on a true story of humanity, the narrative revolves around a group of young people who form Youth to the Rescue, AKA Jugend Rettet, to take action and help thousands of refugees stranded and dying in the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Europe. Despite lacking any sea rescue experience, they are determined to do everything in their power to save lives.
Upon raising enough funds through a crowdfunding campaign, they invest in an old fishing vessel called Iuventa. They set sail aboard the ship and embark on a daring mission to save the lives of more than 23,000 people. However, during their rescue mission, the young rescuers’ understanding of what’s fair and right is tested to the limit. The inspiring tale unfolds primarily aboard the Iuventa, a vessel in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, making the search-and-rescue mission all the more difficult.
23,000 Lives Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘23,000 Lives’ was conducted in Malta and Germany, especially in Kalkara and Berlin. From what we can tell, principal photography for the biographical film got underway in September 2024 and went on for a couple of months before wrapping up in early November of the same year. One of the cast members, Eleonora Romandini, shared a few words of gratitude about being a part of the special project. She stated: “Thrilled to share that I had the pleasure of working alongside an incredibly talented group of young artists on this project. I’m very happy to be part of telling such an important true story. It was an amazing experience to collaborate with such inspiring individuals.”
Kalkara, Malta
Located in the Port Region of Malta, the seaside village of Kalkara served as the primary production location for ‘23,000 Lives.’ To shoot most of the marine scenes on board the Iuventa, the filming unit took over the Malta Film Studios on St. Rocco Street. Established in 1964, the film studio is known for supporting maritime scenes for international projects. It is home to three water tanks, allowing filmmakers to bring many open sea sequences to life in a controlled environment.
Since the German film is mainly set in the open waters, the cast and crew members made the most of the film studio’s amenities. Apart from the Markus Goller directorial, Kalkara has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows, including ‘The Count of Monte Cristo,’ ‘Napoleon,’ ‘Captain Phillips,’ ‘Midnight Express,’ ‘American Renegades,’ and ‘Moby Dick.’
Berlin, Germany
Additional portions for ‘23,000 Lives’ were also reportedly shot in the capital of Germany — Berlin. Since a minor chunk of the story is set in the German city, the production team set up camp on location and utilized the bustling streets of Berlin. You are likely to spot numerous landmarks and buildings in the backdrop of exterior and establishing shots, such as Fernsehturm, the Victory Column, Potsdamer Platz, the Gendarmenmarkt, and the Berlin Palace.
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