White Bird, which filmed in Prague in early 2021, finally saw release in U.S. cinemas this past weekend where it debuted in over 1,000 locations. Star Gillian Anderson shared some behind-the-scenes photos taken at Czech locations during filming on her social media accounts to celebrate the release.
On Instagram, Anderson posted a selfie with Czech actor Miroslav Táborský, who plays Monsieur Lafleur in the film. Other photos shared by Anderson include an assortment of behind-the-scenes shots of sets and actors from White Bird, and a shot of rat sculptures made by Kryštof Hošek for an exhibition at Museum Kampa.
On Facebook, Anderson shared an additional set of photos from behind the scenes of White Bird along with other shots of Czech locales, including of her labradoodle Stella on location in Prague as well as a a video of David Černý’s peeing fountain, Piss, another popular tourist attraction on Kampa.
Released as White Bird, a shortened version of original title White Bird: A Wonder Story, the film has taken a long route to its theatrical release after wrapping in Prague more than three years ago. Originally scheduled to hit cinemas in 2022, it was pushed back to 2023 and premiered that July at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
Following additional delays, White Bird premiered in select European territories, including neighboring Germany, earlier this year before its stateside release. A theatrical release in Czech cinemas is not expected.
A prequel/spinoff of 2017’s Wonder, White Bird is a WWII-era drama that stars Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson in featured roles. While the original film starring Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts was set in modern-day New York, most of the new film takes place in 1940s France, with Prague and surrounding locations filling in for the period locales.
White Bird follows Julian Albans (played by Bryce Gheisar, the lone returning member of Wonder’s cast), an adversary of the earlier film’s protagonist played by Jacob Tremblay. After being expelled from school, Julian’s grandmother (played by Mirren) tells him a story from her childhood during the Second World War.
In occupied France, Mirren’s character Sarah (who is played as a teenager by Ariella Glaser) hides from Nazi persecution with the help of a young boy (Orlando Schwerdt). The young pair find love in a world of their own creation as the boy’s mother (played by Anderson) risks everything to keep them safe.
Marc Forster (World War Z, Quantum of Solace) directed White Bird: A Wonder Story from a screenplay by Mark Bomback, adapted from the graphic novel by Wonder author R.J. Palacio.
White Bird was filmed in Prague’s Barrandov Studio, with location work also taking place on the streets of the city. Portions of the film were also shot in the village of Kněževes in Prague-West.
Outside of Prague, White Bird was filmed across additional Czech locations including Kutná Hora, Grabštejn Castle outside of Liberec, the Brdy forests southwest of Prague, and at other rural locations such as Kolešov, Štampach, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, and Hýskov.
“I’d been wanting to come back to Prague for some time, having only visited briefly once before,” Anderson told the Czech Film Commission during the filming of White Bird.
“To be honest, I would have seen more of the city if there weren’t paparazzi outside the hotel every day. But perhaps if I come again it will be anonymously and I’ll have more of a chance to walk around your beautiful city.”
One Response
Moving film and glad I had a chance to see it in cinemas. Mss. Mirren and Anderson are wonderful.