Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Carmine Elia, Netflix’s Italian crime drama series ‘Sara – Woman in the Shadows’ (‘Sara: La donna nell’ombra’) explores the deadly game of espionage fueled by the pain of personal loss. Sara, who left behind her days in the secret services long back, finds herself resorting to the old ways to ascertain the cause behind the mysterious death of her son. She is skilled and determined to know the truth, but help from her old colleague Teresa is a two-way street. If Sara wants her assistance, she must also assist her in a mission in return. She agrees, and along with police officer Pardo and photographer Viola, who is also the pregnant partner of Sara’s son, dives into the dark waters of Italy’s underbelly. In keeping with the genre of the show, which is adapted from Maurizio de Giovanni’s novel series ‘Le indagini di Sara’ (‘The Investigations of Sara’), the visuals conjure a dark setting underscored by lies and deceit.
Sara Woman in the Shadows Filming Locations
‘Sara – Woman in the Shadows’ is filmed entirely in Italy, specifically in Rome and Naples. Principal photography of Season 1 reportedly began in June 2023 and continued for several months before wrapping up in May 2024. The long schedule may have been the result of delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes from July to November of 2023, which affected Netflix’s slate of projects. Both Rome and Naples were captured extensively to establish the world Sara navigates in search of the truth regarding her son’s death.
Rome, Italy
Rome, the capital city of Italy, served as the primary backdrop for a majority of the indoor and outdoor scenes in ‘Sara – Woman in the Shadows.’ Located in the Lazio region, the city is reputed the world over for its historical architecture, which provides the show with a unique visual charm. The old-world structures and the secrets they carry help highlight the mystery in the narrative. In contrast, Italy’s urban landscape, as captured by the crew, provides the show with a sense of modernism, cold and mechanical. The availability of prominent production studios may have also enabled the crew to capture indoor shots and action sequences in controlled environments.
Rome is a major global tourist destination, boasting the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel Sant’Angelo, Barcaccia, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Victor Emmanuel II Monument, and many more structures from the pages of history. It is equally popular as an international filming spot, having served as the setting for movies and shows like ‘Fountain of Youth,’ ‘Another Simple Favor,’ ‘The Leopard,’ and ‘Emily in Paris,’ to name a few. Needless to say, the city may have served for establishing shots as well.
Naples, Italy
The second stop for the production team of ‘Sara – Woman in the Shadows’ was Naples, AKA Napoli, the capital of Campania. Many areas were accessed to capture outdoor scenes, including the neighborhood of Taverna del Ferro in the coastal suburb of San Giovanni a Teduccio. Several indoor scenes were also filmed in the city, for which the production crew may have reached out to a production studio, which Naples has several. A few outdoor scenes were also taped inside Galleria Principe di Napoli, located at Via Broggia, 7. Built in the 19th century, the commercial gallery has glass ceilings and is yet another example of Italy’s ornamental architecture. It is one of the areas you can visit in Naples alongside Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel Nuovo, Museo di Capodimonte, Centro direzionale di Napoli, and the Royal Palace of Naples. The city served as the backdrop for ‘The Lying Life of Adults’ and ‘My Brilliant Friend.’
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