Believe it or not, this really happened! Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and Leonidas (Gerard Butler) have met in Serbia. The year was 2010 and the reason was Coriolanus, Fiennes’ directorial debut.
And even though huge Hollywood names are in play, the filming of this contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy started on 17 March 2010 in Pančevo, a small town near Belgrade.
Filmed in Serbia
The budget for this project was $7.7 million, and $4 million was set aside for filming in Serbia. The filming of Coriolanus started in March of 2010 and lasted for 3 months.
Many locations were scouted and 36 were chosen for this modern-day interpretation of the beloved Bard’s play.
The first scenes were filmed in Pančevo, on the bank of the Tamiš river, near the ’’Uroš Predić’’ Grammar school and the Catholic church.
The set was then transferred to Serbia’s capital. Several locations in Belgrade were chosen, such as the Serbian parliament and its main Senate chamber, the Kalenić market, the ’’Jugoslavija’’ hotel, the White Palace, the Mostar interchange, as well as two more at Dedinje and Rakovica.
Why Fiennes insisted on Belgrade?
However, there is one question we all want to know the answer to and that is – of all the cities in the world, why Belgrade?
Fiennes gave an answer every single person who ever visited Belgrade would give.
In his interview with Andreas Wiseman, Fiennes pointed out why Serbia was the best choice: ’’ […] There are great contrasts in Belgrade between weary Austro-Hungarian architecture, the old communist style and early 20th century neo-classicism. […] All these styles and layers gave me a world that was contemporary but also rich in historical texture. I want people to say: ‘where is that?’ People might think it’s Germany, Russia, Argentina… Belgrade has the weight of a capital. It’s a power city. […] ’’
He also said was drawn to Belgrade’s spirit and that Belgrade was always his first choice.
Everybody who ever took a stroll through Serbia’s capital would agree with Fiennes’ perception of Belgrade.
This, however, was not the last time Fiennes visited Belgrade. He returned in 2014 to greet the 42nd FEST’s audience, in Serbian, with the words ’’Dame i gospodo, dobro veče!’’, before the screening of The Invisible Woman, his drama about Charles Dickens’ biggest love.
When not fighting a war, Butler enjoyed Serbian delicacies
Apart from Fiennes, a renowned British actor known for his prominent role of Voldemort in the ’’Harry Potter’’ film series as well as for his roles in the ’’The English Patient’’ and the ’’Schindler’s List’’, another distinguished actor starred in this film. The actor in question is the Scottish stud Gerard Butler, who gained recognition for his portrayal of King Leonidas in the movie ’’300’’.
What’s interesting here is that, almost immediately after he checked in the presidential suite of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Butler ordered a number of Serbian delicacies.
Well done, Gerard!
The film Coriolanus is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s play which Fiennes set in a contemporary day alternate version of Rome. Coriolanus follows the life of a famous Roman general Gaius Marcius Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes) who got his agnomen “Coriolanus” after he conquered the Volscian city of Corioles in 493 BC. After being falsely accused of treason, exiled from Rome, he joins his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) and leads Volsci troops to besiege Rome.
On Rotten Tomatoes the film was described in the following words: ’’Visceral and visually striking, Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus proves Shakespeare can still be both electrifying and relevant in a modern context. ’’, so we highly recommend you watch it. Not only to get acquainted with Shakespeare, Ralph Fiennes and mr. Butler, but to see snippets of Serbia as well.
We would also like to mention that Serbian actors Slavko Štimac i Dragan Mićanović also starred in this film and were commended by Fiennes.
Featured image: www.kino.de
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