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Star Wars crew in northern Italy to film Han Solo spin-off

Cast and crew working on a new Star Wars spin-off are currently in Italy for a week of filming in the Dolomite mountains.

Published: 10 May 2017 10:24 CEST

Star Wars crew in northern Italy to film Han Solo spin-off

A sunrise over the Dolomites. Photo: Geribody/Deposit Photos

Parts of the film, which will focus on character Han Solo, will be filmed in several locations around northern Italy. The crew's base camp is currently set up in Misurina – a charming ski town known as the 'pearl of the Dolomites'.

The towering Monte Piana will be the setting for several key scenes including a “violent brawl”, according to Corriere delle Alpi. Filming is taking place over a week to allow the crew to film plenty of sunrise and sunset shots.

Other areas which will appear in the film include the First World War trenches located above Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The Dolomites' Open Air Museum of the First World War consists of trenches, tunnels, and structures which were used in the crucial battles fought on the mountains.

Trenches dug into the rock. Photo: Isaac24/Deposit Photos

And the crew will also take advantage of the photogenic location to film panoramic shots of the Tre Cime, a famous trio of peaks on the border between South Tyrol and Belluno.

The Tre Cime. Photo: jovannig/Deposit Photos

The area – usually popular with tourists – is completely cordoned off while the filming takes place, with a ban on cameras and smartphones near the set.

Movie fans will have to wait until the release, scheduled for May 2018, to see their favourite characters in the Italian mountains.

But fans of the franchise might have spotted Italian locations in some of the previous films.

The Caserta Royal Palace. Photo: greta6/Deposit Photos

The Versailles-inspired Palace of Caserta was transformed into the Naboo Royal Palace in two of the films, while Anakin and Padmé got married overlooking Lake Como in the Villa del Balbianello, which is Italy's most visited FAI (National Trust) property.

And in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, look out for the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. The background includes footage from Mount Etna, which started erupting while crews were in southern Italy.

READ ALSO: The stunning movie scene locations you simply have to visit in Italy

Photo: Kassandra2/Deposit Photos

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Cinema in France

Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs.

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm.

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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