From a near-future dystopian film about humans forced to reckon with the power and autonomy of robots, one would expect settings that are just as futuristic and “ultra-urban.” The locations of A Wonderful World are striking, because they juxtapose a narrative universe — fast-paced and dominated by technology and automation — with the calm and tranquility of one of the most romantic areas of France.
Among expansive valleys that give way to pristine bays, fishing villages where time seems to have stood still, and picturesque medieval towns, here is where Giulio Callegari’s film was shot, arriving in Italian theaters on September 3 2026.
What it’s about
Max (Blanche Gardin) is a former teacher resentful of the dominance of technology who has chosen to live, with her daughter Paula (Laly Mercier), on the margins of society. Tired of having to resort to every possible ruse to survive, one day Paula steals a state-of-the-art robot, convinced she can dismantle it and resell its parts. However, something goes wrong and Paula vanishes into thin air. To find her, Max will be forced to cooperate with the robots and, after hair-raising escapes, chases, and unexpected encounters, she will discover that solidarity, empathy, and a certain sense of humanity can survive even in a world ruled by algorithms.
Where the film was shot
A Wonderful World was filmed primarily in the Pays de la Loire: a region of France that stretches from the Loire Valley to the Atlantic coast, characterized by a wide variety of landscapes. Here medieval castles alternate with ruins from Gaul-to-Roman times; nature dominates in the lush valleys and pastures along the rivers, and there are seaside towns much loved by both tourists and locals, as well as stretches of coast still untouched.
The Wild Coast (La Côte Sauvage)
The majority of the locations for A Wonderful World are, for instance, along what is known as the The Wild Coast (La Côte Sauvage). It is a fairly untamed stretch of coast, characterized by granite cliffs plunging into the sea, caves and hidden bays where one can savor the power of the ocean, such as the Baie du Dervin, in Batz-sur-Mer, where several scenes of the film were shot.
The Korrigans’ Cave (La Grotta dei Korrigans)
Those more familiar with the area will have no trouble recognizing on screen the Korrigans’ Cave: located near Le Pouliguen, it is a cave more than thirty meters deep into the Atlantic Ocean, much loved by hikers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts, and at the center of Breton legends that portray it as inhabited by mischievous fairies (the korrigans).
