“All the Light We Cannot See,” a historical war drama series on Netflix, was created by Steven Knight and Shawn Levy. It is based on Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The two teenagers, Werner Pfennig and Marie-Laure are at the center of the story, which is set at the height of World War II.
Living in a mining village in Germany, Werner is forced to fight for the Nazi Regime, while the blind princess and her family escape to Saint-Malo’s walled castle with the most valuable—yet deadly—jewel from the Museum of Natural History.
Aria appears in All the Light We Cannot See as a cast member. Starring Hugh Laurie as Etienne LeBlanc, Mark Ruffalo as Daniel LeBlanc, Marion Bailey as Madame Manec, Werner Pfennig as Louis Hofmann, Marie-Laure LeBlanc as a child starring Nell Sutton, and Marie-Laure LeBlanc as Mia Loberti
In the latter days of World War II, Marie-Laure and Werner Pfennig’s paths soon intersected in occupied France. Several talented actors, including Hugh Laurie, Marion Bailey, Lars Eidinger, Mark Ruffalo, Aria Mia Loberti, and Louis Hofmann, are part of the drama show’s cast. Every episode of their compelling performances keeps the audience engaged and advances the plot.
Even though the plot takes place in France and Germany, the Netflix production was shot in a variety of places. Filming for “All the Light We Cannot See” was done in France, Hungary, and Germany, mostly in Berlin, Saint-Malo, Aveyron, Budapest, and Soponya. Official reports state that main photography for the first season of the war series began in March 2022 and lasted for around four months before ending in July of the same year.
All The Light We Cannot See Filming Locations
Saint-Malo, France
The film crew used the real locations of the historic harbor city of Saint-Malo, where “All the Light We Cannot See” is based, to video several significant scenes for the series. For example, 4 Rue Vauborel and its environs are mentioned in multiple scenes.
Shawn Levy, one of the co-creators, discussed the value of on-location filming in an interview with Variety. He stated, “You get an authenticity that you can’t replicate on a soundstage or with any visual effects when you shoot in the real place where the real history happened.”
Aveyron, France
A large amount of “All the Light We Cannot See” was also shot in the department of Aveyron, France, which is located in the Occitania region. Specifically, Villefranche-de-Rouergue commune, which acts as a stand-in for Saint-Malo, is one of the main production locations.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue’s historic central square, 1940s-style short streets, and condensed urban layout are evocative of the old Saint-Malo landscape, which makes the commune a good substitute for the port city. During the first few weeks of July 2022, when the actors and crew were preparing for the first season, they recorded several crucial street scenes, bombing scenes, and scenes of Saint-Malo’s liberation.
Several key scenes are shot at the former Blanc aéro facility, which is currently LISI AEROSPACE on Rue de la Murette, ZA de la Glèbe in La Rouquette, while several 1940s-style shop windows are reproduced.
For instance, the filmmaking unit is responsible for the changes on rue Montlauzeur, Reyniès, Alphonse de Poitiers, plaza de la Fontaine, rue Saint-Jacques, rue Prestat, and Rue Bories. Another significant site where “All the Light We Cannot See” was filmed is Place Notre Dame.
Hungary
The film crew of “All the Light We Cannot See” travels to Hungary for filming, taking advantage of the country’s diverse landscape. The nation’s capital, Budapest, provides the setting for a number of significant scenes in the historical drama.
Budapest is a great place to film a television show like “All the Light We Cannot See” because it has some amazing buildings that span many different eras and styles. Furthermore, the film crew moved to the town of Soponya after leaving Budapest in order to record a few more scenes for the Louis Hofmann film.
Berlin, Germany
Another important scene was filmed in Berlin, the capital of Germany. In addition to “All the Light We Cannot See,” the city has hosted the production of several movies over the years. The most well-known ones include “The Monuments Men,” “Black Book,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Valkyrie,” “Bridge of Spies,” and “The Book Thief.”
