A satirical thriller based on real events was filmed in Australia and Ecuador. The main shooting took place on the Galapagos Islands, where the real story of settlers on Floreana Island in the 1930s, which became the basis for the film's plot, occurred. Australian locations on the Gold Coast and Queensland were used for additional scenes that could not be shot on the islands due to restrictions on filming in nature reserves.

Filming Locations:

Island

In the Movie

Scene where a group of European settlers arrives on a remote island. The story unfolds in the 1930s on an island in the Galapagos archipelago. A group of European settlers, seeking to create a utopian society, leaves civilization and heads to a remote island. The main characters, Dr. Friedrich Ritter and his wife Dora Strauch Ritter, leave Germany, striving to free themselves from bourgeois values and focus on their spiritual growth. Dora also hopes to cure her multiple sclerosis through meditation in the island's idyllic nature. Friedrich plans to focus on his manifesto, which is to become the foundation of a new society.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the Galapagos Islands. This is a unique archipelago located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 900 kilometers off the coast of South America. The islands are volcanic rocks with sparse vegetation, but they are home to many endemic species such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and penguins. The uniqueness of the islands' flora and fauna inspired Charles Darwin to create the theory of evolution; they are one of the most significant biological UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Galapagos Islands were chosen for filming because of their unique nature and historical significance: the film's plot is based on real events related to settlers on Floreana in the 1930s. Using the real location allowed the filmmakers to recreate the setting of the true story. The unique landscapes and ecosystem of the islands added visual appeal to the film and helped immerse viewers in the atmosphere of that time.

Beach on the Island

In the Movie

Scene where Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn arrives on the island. Shortly after the arrival of the Ritter and Wittmer families, the self-proclaimed Austrian baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn sails in with two lovers and a servant. She plans to build a luxury hotel for millionaire tourists on the island, which sharply contrasts with the Ritters' ideas of simple living.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on one of the beaches in Queensland, Australia. The Gold Coast in Queensland is a popular tourist region known for its stunning beaches, diverse entertainment, and picturesque landscapes: golden sand, turquoise water, and lush vegetation. The creators chose this location as a stand-in for the Galapagos Islands: some scenes were shot on the Gold Coast due to filming restrictions in the archipelago. This choice ensured visual consistency and authenticity of the story.