Naman Shrestha
Based on a true story and Tamara Trottner’s novel titled ‘Nadie Nos Vio Partir,’ Netflix’s ‘No One Saw Us Leave’ is a Mexican drama series that follows Leo and Valeria, a married couple whose marriage shows signs of deterioration. Amidst the talks of divorce, things get more complicated when Leo finds out that his estranged wife has been having an affair with his brother-in-law. To get back at her, he kidnaps their children and takes them to Europe with the help of his father, Samuel, who is a powerful businessman.
Given that Samuel moved to Mexico from Europe during World War II, he uses his influence to support Leo in Europe. When Valeria learns about the abduction, she embarks on a desperate mission, with the help of her family, to reunite with her children across Europe and other parts of the world. Originally titled ‘Nadie Nos Vio Partir,’ the show is set in the 1960s, and the conflict between two Jewish families unfolds primarily in Mexico but also in places like South Africa, France, Italy, and Israel, taking the viewers on a ride around the world.
No One Saw Us Leave Filming Locations
‘No One Saw Us Leave’ is filmed across four different countries — Mexico, South Africa, Italy, and France, specifically in Mexico City, Cape Town, and Paris. From the looks of it, principal photography for the drama show seemingly got underway in June 2024 and went on for about four months or so before wrapping up in late October of the same year. Costume designer Annaí Ramos Maza took to social media to extend her gratitude to the show’s directors and fellow cast and crew members, thus indicating that in bringing the show to life the members of the team also created lasting memories.
Mexico City, Mexico
Since the majority of ‘No One Saw Us Leave’ is set in Mexico, the production team lensed many pivotal sequences on location in and around Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. The scenes involving the house of Leo and Valeria, as well as their family members, were supposedly taped in actual establishments and properties situated in the city. In the establishing and outdoor shots, you are likely to spot a few iconic and popular local buildings and landmarks, such as the Angel of Independence, the Museo Soumaya, the Monument to the Revolution, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
Cape Town, South Africa
To tape a portion of the Mexican-Spanish television series, the team also visited Cape Town, located on the southwest coast of South Africa. Aside from its rich cuisine, cultural heritage, and diverse wildlife, the port city boasts a vibrant mix of natural landscapes, ranging from the world-renowned Table Mountain to rugged peaks and sun-drenched beaches. Thus, it proves to be a spectacular filming site for a variety of backdrops. One such beach in the coastal city — Muizenberg Beach — served as a backdrop for the story of the estranged couple, Leo and Valeria, in ‘No One Saw Us Leave.’ The cast and crew spent some time filming at the sandy beach, a popular spot for surfing the majestic, rolling waves, basking in the sunshine, relaxing under colorful huts, or simply enjoying the serene atmosphere.
Italy
The process of painting the visual canvas of ‘No One Saw Us Leave’ also took the cast and crew to Italy. Several locations of the south-central European country served as the backdrop of the Netflix production. Italy is not a stranger to standing in for versatile settings. Over the decades, it has earned a reputation as a favorable filming destination, hosting the production of a variety of movies and television shows, including ‘Head Full of Honey,’ ‘Sabrina Goes to Rome,’ ‘One Step from Heaven,’ and ‘The Protectors.’
Paris, France
In October 2024, many streets and neighborhoods in Paris, the capital of France, were also transformed into film sets for the production of ‘No One Saw Us Leave.’ Also known as the City of Light, Paris became the backdrop for scenes involving Valeria, whose search for her children takes her to France. The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Palais Garnier are some of the landmarks that might serve as backdrops for certain outdoor scenes. Apart from the Mexican show, the capital has served as a prominent production location for numerous movies and shows, including ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Tomorrowland,’ ‘Léon: The Professional,’ ‘The Intouchables,’ ‘Killing Eve,’ and ‘Find Me in Paris.’
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