Shubhabrata Dutta
Created by Ingeborg Topsøe, Netflix’s ‘Secrets We Keep’ (‘Reservatet’) is a Danish thriller miniseries that revolves around a mysterious disappearance in an affluent Danish neighborhood. When a young Filipino au pair named Ruby disappears from a posh neighborhood north of Copenhagen, Cecilie, the neighbor, is convinced that something is wrong. Her au pair, Angel, takes the matter into her own hands after it becomes clear that the police are least interested in a missing foreigner case. Angel and Cecilie both decide to assist Detective Aicha in the investigation. As they start getting close to the truth, Cecilie realizes that Ruby’s disappearance may have something to do with her own family. With mystery at its heart, the narrative required a compelling world-building, for which the visuals play a vital role.
Secrets We Keep Filming Locations
‘Secrets We Keep’ is filmed entirely in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, especially the North Coast. Principal photography reportedly began in the first half of March 2024 and continued for over three months before wrapping up in June of the same year. Talking about his excitement regarding the show, director Per Fly told Netflix how he was “immediately drawn to the universe of the series. The North Coast’s attractive and aesthetic world provides a beautiful backdrop for a story about social class. Beneath the polished surface, secrets and conflicts are simmering. I was curious to explore what happens when the facade begins to crack and the human truths emerge.”
Copenhagen, Denmark
Two mansions north of Copenhagen became the bases for filming, namely the Gotfred Tvedes mansion, a part of the Ordrupgaard Museum, and the Hvidøre House. Located at Vilvordevej 110 in northern Copenhagen, the Gotfred Tvedes mansion doubled as Cecilie’s residence. Several indoor and outdoor scenes were shot there. Built in classicist style between 1916 and 1918 by Danish architect Gotfred Tvede, it is the main building of the Ordrupgaard. It is preserved with its original furniture and accessories, and offers tourists an authentic revisit to the era.
On the other hand, the Hvidøre House, which is situated at Emiliekildevej 1 in the suburb of Klampenborg, is also used to capture many indoor and outdoor scenes. The building, with the Bellevue Beach in its north, served as the home of Maria Feodorovna of Russia, daughter of King Christian IX, after she was exiled in 1917, following the Russian Revolution. It is currently used as a conference and training venue for the multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Group. With a combination of Italian and Victorian architecture, the pristine white building is an iconic landmark in Copenhagen.
Besides the buildings mentioned above, several indoor scenes were filmed at a mansion on Amaliegade Street in central Copenhagen. The crew rented it, customized indoor sets, and set up lights outside for fake sunlight. Amaliegade Street was built in the late 18th century and is known for its notable mansions of historical architecture, including Collin’s Gouse, named after art patron Jonas Collin, The Yellow Palace, and architect Lauritz de Thurah’s House. It connects the Sankt Annæ Plads square and the Esplanaden Street.
The crew filmed additional outdoor scenes at the Temple Sea Bath, a beach club on Bellevue Beach. Since the club is very close to the Hvidøre House, it may have been an easily accessible location for the required scenes. Located at Bellevue Strand, Taarbæk Strandvej 14a, in Klampenborg, it offers its members swimming, yoga, and sauna. Bellevue Beach itself is one of the most popular tourist spots in Copenhagen, its 700-metre stretch offering relaxation along with a gorgeous view of the serene waters of the Baltic Sea.
A few outdoor scenes were also captured at Ørsted Park, located at Nørre Voldgade 1, in central Copenhagen. Established in the 1870s and named after Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted, it is known for its lush greenery and wide variety of beautiful trees and plants. It has two large playgrounds and a barbecue area. In summer, it hosts many open-air concerts and cultural events. Monuments dedicated to Hans Christian Ørsted, pedagogue Natalie Zahle, Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, and Hans’s brother, Anders Sandøe Ørsted, can also be spotted.
Copenhagen is home to Nordisk Film, the oldest film production company in the world. It has a big film and TV industry and hosts many international productions every year. Some of the projects shot there are ‘The Bear,’ ‘Copenhagen Love Story,’ ‘Copenhagen Cowboy,’ and ‘The Chestnut Man.’ Iconic landmarks and locations that are must-see for tourists include the neighborhood of Christianshavn, Indre By, AKA Downtown Copenhagen, King’s Garden, Frederiksberg Gardens, Copenhagen Zoo, and the Little Mermaid statue.
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