The film was shot on location in Spain, England, Germany, and Algeria. The main scenes in Spain were filmed in Barcelona, the country's largest commercial center. The famous La Rambla, one of the oldest and most picturesque streets in Europe, was used. The meeting scene between Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider took place at the Palau Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí. Originally built as a private residence for a textile magnate, it is now a museum and an unusual architectural work in the Catalan modernist style. From Barcelona, the crew moved to Almería, where they worked on the city streets and among orange groves, then to Málaga, a popular resort in the south. Next was Seville, an ancient Andalusian city with a rich architectural heritage. Filming then continued in Algeria, where for two weeks the crew worked at Fort Polignac, located in a desert area. These scenes also depicted the territory of the African state of Chad. In Algeria, the team lived in tents, adapting to the hot climate and minimal conditions. The filming period ended in the UK: about five weeks were spent in London, shooting scenes at Georgian Square, a television studio, and a residential complex in the Bloomsbury area.

Filming Locations:

La Pedrera

In the Film

In Reality

The scene was filmed Officially known as Casa Milà, this private residence was designed for Pere Milà and Roser Segimon by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí in collaboration with Josep Maria Jujol between 1906 and 1912 in the modernist style.

Church

In the Film

The scene where after the wedding ceremony, two men approach Locke, whom he had already noticed at the airport. They demand documents from him. He hands over the contents of the luggage locker, after which he receives an envelope with money from them. The men inform him that the remaining amount will be given to him in Barcelona.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at St. George's Church on Bogenhauser Kirchplatz in the Bogenhausen district of Munich. It is one of the oldest sacred buildings in the city, first mentioned in the 12th century, although the current structure dates from the 17th century and is built in the Baroque style. The church was reconstructed after the Thirty Years' War and has since preserved its historical architecture, including a characteristic onion dome and interior decoration with late Baroque elements. The site is considered an important monument of local religious history and has long served as an active parish.

Palau Güell

In the Film

The scene where Locke meets an architecture student while trying to hide in the Palau Güell museum building. Later, Locke asks her to pick up his belongings from the hotel so that Knight, who is watching the lobby, does not notice him.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Palau Güell in Barcelona, one of the early masterpieces of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. Built between 1886 and 1890, this building is an example of modernist architecture, combining elements of Gothic and early Art Nouveau. The palace is located in the historic center of Barcelona, on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, close to La Rambla.

Chad Desert

In the Film

The scene where David Locke, a disillusioned television journalist in northern Chad, tries to interview rebels involved in a civil war. His search is only exacerbated when his Land Rover gets stuck in a sand dune after the guides leave him in this remote location.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in Illizi, formerly Fort Polignac, located in eastern Algeria, in the heart of the Sahara. This region is known for its harsh yet captivating nature: endless sand dunes, rocky formations, and a scorching sun create an atmosphere of remoteness and desert isolation. Fort Polignac, now known as Illizi, was built by the French in the 19th century, and its fortress walls still bear traces of the past. Despite its historical significance, the site appears abandoned and almost deserted.