Naman Shrestha
Inspired by the Israeli series ‘Ish Hashuv Meod’ (‘Very Important Person’), Netflix’s ‘French Lover’ is a French romantic comedy movie directed by Lisa-Nina Rives. The narrative follows Abel Camara, a star who is used to the glitz and glamor associated with the entertainment industry since his childhood. Not only does he have wealth and success, but he also has the love and respect of his fans. However, he has hit a rough patch in his career, something he is not used to.
He meets a downtrodden waitress named Marion, who has never tasted stardom. In the midst of her divorce, she finds a connection with the jaded actor and thus begins their unexpected love story full of twists and turns. Featuring a talented ensemble cast comprising Omar Sy, Sara Giraudeau, Alban Ivanov, Pascale Arbillot, and Agnès Hurstel, the film unfolds in the City of Lights, a perfect setting that breathes new life into romantic stories.
French Lover Filming Locations
The production for ‘French Lover’ primarily took place in France, especially in the Paris metropolitan area. According to reports, principal photography for the Omar Sy starrer got underway in late May 2024 and supposedly wrapped up after more than four months in October of the same year.
Paris Metropolitan Area, France
The filming of ‘French Lover’ took the cast and crew to multiple locales in the Paris Metropolitan Area in France. Several scenes were taped in Paris, the capital of the West European country. You can spot Le Bonaparte in the backdrop of the shot of Abel walking towards a cafe, wherein he stumbles upon Marion for the first time. The scenes were actually taped on location at 42 Rue Bonaparte on Saint-Germain-des-Prés Square. However, it seems like the interior sequences were shot somewhere else. A portion of filming was also conducted at Boulevard Malesherbes, which stretches from the Church of the Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement to the Porte d’Asnières in the 17th arrondissement.
Abel’s entry on the red carpet with the paparazzi around was filmed outside of the stunning neo-Baroque façade of The Salle Favart, the primary theater of Opéra-Comique. The 1,200-seat performance hall is located at Place Boïeldieu in the city’s 2nd arrondissement and flaunts a Beaux-Arts architecture. The exterior sequence, in which Marion accompanies Abel to the grand premiere of one of his films, was captured at Le Grand Rex, the iconic Art Deco cinema located at 1 Boulevard Poissonnière in the 2nd arrondissement. Reportedly one of the largest cinemas in Europe, it has the capacity to seat 2,800 people and also hosts concerts and other cultural events.
For the purpose of filming, the production team also visited the town of Chantilly, Oise, around 30 miles to the north of the City of Light. In particular, the Château de Chantilly was used as a shooting site. Spanning 7800 hectares, it is situated at Rue du Connétable within the region of Hauts-de-France in the northern part of the country. A momentous cultural and artistic heritage, it houses some of the most significant libraries, remarkable architecture, fine art, and historic collections. Approximately 9 km from the heart of Paris, the commune of Meudon in the Hauts-de-Seine department in the Île-de-France region also served as a filming location.
Read More: Where Was Netflix’s She Said Maybe Filmed?
