Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, the Danish drama miniseries ‘Families Like Ours’ (‘Familier som vores’) centers on the chaos that takes shape as humans deal with an impending natural disaster. The story is set in the not-too-distant future in Denmark, where the government has declared the city’s evacuation due to rising sea levels. It centers on Laura, a high school student struggling to decide whom she wants to be with between her divorced parents, Fanny and Jacob.
Told both at a microscopic and macroscopic level, the audience sees how a natural disaster affects a full-fledged city, with stocks plummeting, houses being abandoned, people being forced to flee in any way possible, the rich moving to other countries, while the poor resort to state-funded spaces. Yet, despite all this, hope thrives as many fight to stay together with their loved ones. The visuals of ‘Families Like Ours,’ showcasing a city falling apart, play a crucial role in highlighting its massive scale.
Families Like Ours Filming Locations
‘Families Like Ours’ was filmed across Denmark, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Romania, France, and Poland. Principal photography reportedly began in August 2022 and continued for over a year, though not at a stretch, before finally coming to an end in August 2023. “I did my morning yoga for the first 80%, 90% of the shoot. Then, towards the end, out of fatigue or something, my body disintegrated. I was ill for a month after the shoot ended,” the director, Vinterberg, told Variety.
Denmark
Denmark became one of the primary bases for filming, since the story is set in the country. It is where all the characters are based, but are forced to leave as soon as possible. Zentropa, one of the production companies involved in the project and based in Denmark, has almost all of its employees and their families photoshopped onto a big ‘Missing People Wall’ in a scene in the show. The Nordic country is famous for its history, which includes the Vikings, its culture, period architecture, and scenic landscapes.
Considered one of the happiest countries in the world, it has some of the most-visited tourist locations in the world, like its capital, Copenhagen, Bornholm, Aarhus, Aero, and Dragor. The country is also ranked as one of the world’s best places to live. Some of its iconic landmarks include Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Troldeskoven in North Zealand, Thy National Park in Thisted, Kastrup Sea Baths in Kastrup, and the picturesque town of Kerteminde on the island of Funen. Some of the popular festivals are Sankt Hans festival, the Fastelavn celebrations, the Skanderborg Music Festival, Aalborg Carnival, and Cherry Festival. Other shows filmed in Denmark are ‘Secrets We Keep,’ ‘Euphoria,’ and ‘The Rain.’
Prague, Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, the crew traveled to Prague, the country’s capital, to film several scenes. Many sequences were captured in Old Town, a medieval settlement in the city, and Kaprova Street, including the area near Staroměstská metro station. Some shots were also taped around Pařížská street, considered the city’s most prestigious boulevard, and the section where it connects to Old Town Square. In Josefov, a town quarter in Prague, the team lensed some shots in the Salvátorská Street and the Kostečná Street.
A few sequences were also captured in Wenceslas Square, one of the many city squares, known for celebrations and other public gatherings. In addition to the cast, more than 40 foreign actors and over 2,500 extras from all over Europe were involved in ‘Families Like Ours.’ A few scenes were also shot on the Slapy Reservoir, which is situated just a few miles south of Prague. Other shows filmed in the country include ‘The Wheel of Time,’ ‘Foundation,’ ‘The Lazarus Project,’ and ‘Monkeys.’
Sweden
Sweden, a Nordic country in the Scandinavian Peninsula, was also used as the backdrop for several on-location scenes of ‘Families Like Ours.’ Stockholm, its capital, is a global filming location, so it is possible that the crew set up shop there. It is also home to many state-of-the-art studios with modern facilities and large sound stages that are perfect for an epic-scale drama series. Other popular cities that the country boasts are Gothenburg, Karlskrona, Linköping, Ystad, and Örebro. Films and shows that have used the country for their backdrops include ‘The Abyss,’ ‘Tsunami,’ and ‘The Glass Dome.’
Romania
Some additional scenes were filmed in Romania, a country in southeastern Europe. It is a member state of the European Union and is primarily known for being the home of Dracula in pop culture. If you want to see it, head to the Bran Castle, 25 kilometres southwest of the city of Brașov in Brașov County. Other places that are must-visit for tourists are Putna Monastery in Bukovina, and the historic cities of Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Alba Iulia, and Sighișoara. You can also give yourself a scenic hiking experience at the Via Transilvanica trail. ‘Life on Top,’ ‘Umbre,’ and ‘Subteran’ are a few other projects that are filmed in Romania.
Poland
A few scenes of ‘Families Like Ours’ were reportedly captured in Poland. The sequences featuring Polish locals may have been filmed there, and also to be authentic in the story’s depiction. It is a country of immense historical significance, since it is where World War II began in Europe, and a global hub of dark tourism for the Auschwitz concentration camp. Some of the landmarks the country is known for are the Palace of Culture and Science, St. Mary’s Basilica, MNK Sukiennice, Wawel Royal Castle, Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the Kraków Cathedral.
France
Additional scenes of ‘Families Like Ours’ were also lensed in France. One of the most beautiful countries on Earth, it is among the top tourist destinations and is known for its fashion and cuisine. Besides the Eiffel Tower, other marvels of historical architecture are the Louvre Museum, the French Riviera, the Château de Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Musée Picasso. France also hosts the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. As far as a filming location is concerned, it served as the base for projects like ’28 Weeks Later,’ ‘Carême,’ ‘Sense8,’ and ‘No Man’s Land.’ ‘Families Like Ours’ took four years to reach completion, and almost 100 hours of footage were edited into around six hours of drama series.
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