An iron throne in a stone case
By transforming the historic city and its old quarters into a medieval-fantasy capital, sometimes grandiose, sometimes putrid, the Game of Thrones series (2011-2019), adapted from the works of Georges R. R. Martin by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, may be one of the reasons you're visiting Dubrovnik, if not the main reason. For the uninitiated, The Gesture of the Seven Kingdoms is a fantasy tale of political intrigue, family wars and epic battles, set in a medieval universe where violence, sex and murder are commonplace. Add to this an explosive cocktail of dragons and zombies, and you have one of the most popular series of the last decade. Institutionalized or locally-run guided tours crisscross the city at all times, introducing the curious to the Trsteno Arboretum, the Minčeta Fortress or the Pile Gate, among the most recognizable landmarks featured in the series. But you can also go to the information center and pick up the city's brochures yourself, and set off to discover these image-laden places. In this way, you can walk down the baroque Jesuit staircase to the Grand Septuary of Baelor, or climb the paths leading to the Bokar Tower or Fort Lovrijenac, while admiring the Bay of Pile below, places regularly mentioned in the series. Stop off at the Rector's Palace, which you may recognize as that of the Spice King of Qarth, with whom Daenerys Targaryen is forced to negotiate. Finally, end your walk with a sunset over the city walls, and imagine yourself as a knight king or in the role of the Mother of Dragons, depending on the limits of your imagination. Die-hard fans will push the excursion beyond the city walls to the island of Lokrum, whose monastery is also one of the must-see filming locations to visit during your stay. Since 2015, the HBO channel has donated an official replica of the Iron Throne, the central element of the series, to the museum on Lokrum Island, the filming location in the town of Qarth. You may be lucky enough to sit in the coveted seat, at your own risk..
From theater to Star Wars
Among Dubrovnik's first notable film shoots was the adaptation for cinema of The Lady with the Sunflowers (1918), by a Hungarian-Jewish filmmaker then unknown in the West, Mihály Kertész. A few years later, he emigrated to Hollywood and took the name Michael Curtiz, before directing what is certainly one of the greatest masterpieces of American cinema, Casablanca (1942). After the Second World War, filming in Yugoslavia, leaning East despite its status as a non-aligned state, was difficult for international productions. Conversely, Yugoslav cinema struggled to export to the West. Notable film shoots in Dubrovnik are therefore few and far between, although we can mention the arrival of B-movie specialist Roger Corman, director of the cult hit The Little Shop of Horrors (1986), for his war film The Secret Invasion (1964). It follows a commando of disreputable American soldiers who must infiltrate the fortress of Dubrovnik to free an Italian allied officer. It wasn't until 1990 that another American film was shot in the city, this time for an adaptation of Captain America, a comic-book hero well known to fans of the genre and younger audiences alike. The film was not as successful as its 2011 remake, however, and the final battle scene shot on the walls of Fort Lovrijenac borders on the ridiculous. An oddity worth discovering.
Since the end of Yugoslavia and the Dayton Accords, Croatia and Dubrovnik have reinvigorated the regional film industry, prompting many to choose the city as the setting for their film or series. Such is the case for the British mini-series Casanova (2005), which revealed David Tennant(Doctor Who, Jessica Jones), as well as the eighth episode of the Star Wars saga , The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson in 2017. The city plays the role of Canto Bight, a space casino city where Finn, Rose and BB-8 are stranded in their quest for support against the First Order. A year later, it was Robin Hood's turn to set up shop in Dubrovnik, starring Taron Egerton(Kingsman) and accompanied by Jamie Foxx. The film was a commercial and critical failure.
At the same time, the Succession series entered its second season to great acclaim from audiences and journalists alike. This saga has nothing to envy Game of Thrones in terms of plot, except that this time the battles are waged through stock deals, inheritances and media harassment. The yacht chartered by the Roy family - a real-life German vessel named Solandge, apparently available for charter for the modest sum of €950,000 a week - cruises off the Croatian coast, with the blue waters of the beaches of Cavtat, Korčula, Mljet and Sipan, not far from the city, as a backdrop to these intrigues.
Where to see movies in Dubrovnik
Once you've taken in all the scenery, you may be tempted to take a plunge into the screen. There are two main complexes to choose from: CinéStar on the one hand, and the Kinematografi network cinemas on the other. All offer national and international films, and the Kinematografi network cinemas even have two outdoor screens during the summer months. In addition, the Kino Dvorane cinema is housed in the basement of the Convent of St. Clare, giving it an undeniable cachet while still being based in the heart of the city. On the festival front, the Dubrovnik Film Festival (DUFF) offers a wide range of short films for children, both animated and live-action. A feast for the eyes and imaginations of young and old alike, in this already magical city.
