Many filmmakers have sought to portray the charm of Ibiza.
For decades, the island has been the inspiration for dozens of films by directors from all over the world, such as José María Forqué in 1966, with his film La muerte Viaja en Baúl (Death Travels in a Trunk), and Blake Edwards, who shot some of the scenes from Trail of the Pink Panther on Ibiza. Julio Médem filmed his Caótica Ana (Chaotic Ana) here, while Günter Schwaiger shot Ibiza Occident on the island. In this article, we will pay tribute to all of them and move on to the legendary “Action!”, reviewing the main sets for those who wish to visit the island and discover some of its film locations.
One of the most popular feature films that best portrays the island is More, by Barbet Schroeder. A film that, in 1969, managed to spread the iconic image of the island par excellence of freedom and the hippy movement, especially in France and Germany. The soundtrack was recorded by Pink Floyd and the film was shot in some of the most emblematic places on the island, such as Es Vedrà, an uninhabited island surrounded by legends, which is almost 400 metres high and can be seen from Cala D’Hort beach.
Another of the films shot on Ibiza that was a box-office success, especially in Holland, is Verliefd op Ibiza (Loving Ibiza), filmed in 2013. This romantic comedy tells the story of the intertwined adventures of various characters on the island, both residents and tourists. The film was shot in places like Platges de Comte and perfectly reflects the pleasant atmosphere of this beach, which stands out for its turquoise waters and beautiful sunsets.
And from the family comedy we move on to the horror films. The Ibizan film Los Crímenes del Día de Todos los Santos (The All Saints Day Crimes), by Héctor Escandell and Vicent Torres, made in 2016, takes us back to 1971 to tell the story of the discovery of human remains found in the woods of Sant Miquel de Balansat. This “gore” film was also shot in various locations on the greener side of Ibiza: Sant Joan de Labritja.
The list includes Aislados (Isolated), by Ibizan director David Marqués, which was shot in 2005 entirely on the island and tells the story of Adriá and Kike, two friends who, during their stay at the house of a friend whose whereabouts is unknown, discover who they are and where they have travelled and will continue to travel. Santa Agnès de Corona and the port of Sant Antoni de Portmany are the main settings for this black comedy.
And we end with a film shot last year: Un Verano en Ibiza (A Summer in Ibiza), by Arnaud Lemort. This comedy of French origin tells the story of the misadventures of a family that spends its holidays on the island. Since it was filmed entirely in Ibiza, many of the landscapes, beaches and streets of the white island appear in the film, such as the La Marina neighbourhood, the walled city of Dalt Vila, a Unesco World Heritage Site, or the Santa Eulària des Riu promenade, which is perfect for a moonlight walk.