TEXT: Nick Ball, Founder of Lanzarote Guidebook

Thanks to the release of Almodóvar’s new movie in early 2009, the Canary Island of Lanzarote is expecting to welcome flocks of new tourist visitors next year. Broken Embraces, starring Penelope Cruz and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, has been filmed on location across the island.

Broken Embraces tells the story of a couple - played by Penelope Cruz and Lluis Homar - who flee to Lanzarote from Madrid. There, they become embroiled in a car crash in which Homar’s character loses his sight.

Scenes for the film have been shot at some of Lanzarote’s most picturesque locations, including the Green Lagoon at El Golfo, the beach at Famara and the Timanfaya Volcano Park. These breathtaking spots offer a ready made promotional vehicle for Lanzarote’s tourist industry.

Lanzarote has provided the backdrop for a number of previous big screen productions. The island’s unique volcanic scenery has proved to be an irresistible draw for directors of sci-fi movies, such as the classic One Million Years BC which memorably starred Raquel Welch in a fake fur bikini.

Attracting over 1 million British and Irish tourists during 2007, Lanzarote is already a very popular holiday destination. As island tourist authorities attempt to re-brand Lanzarote as a quality holiday destination, they hope the release of Almodóvar’s new movie will help to attract more upmarket tourism to the island.

Certainly, the director himself is a major fan - having visited the island on numerous occasions over the last decade. “Lanzarote has a hypnotic atmosphere,” he said whilst filming. “It manages to relax you. It’s as if the earth has curative properties.”

Leading lady Cruz was also quick to sing the praises of the Island of Fire. “My best friend comes from Lanzarote. I have been here twice before, but now Pedro is showing me all of its corners. The people here are very kind and affectionate.”

Broken Embraces is scheduled for release in early 2009, so expect Lanzarote to feature as a hot holiday destination next year. It’s already rumoured that the premier itself could be screened on the island.

For more information about Lanzarote and a free Guidebook to the island, visit www.lanzaroteguidebook.com

Traveling through films is an amazing way to experience a place without even needing to leave the comfort of your own home. It is definitely not a substitute for traveling, but perfect to get inspiration, ideas and insights. I remember when I saw Gorillas in the Mist when I was about 11-years-old and how fascinated I became by Dian Fossey, the scientists who spent almost two decades of studying the mountain gorillas in Africa’s rainforests. Since then I’ve always wanted to go mountain gorilla tracking in the rainforests of Uganda or Rwanda.

After Thelma & Louise I was determined to do a road trip across USA some time, preferably from the east to the west coast. And K2, one of my favourite movies as a kid, made me want to try mountain climbing.

When I was 15 and saw The Beach I became intrigued by the idea of backpacking in Thailand, starting on Khao San Road in Bangkok and end the trip a month or two later on Koh Phi Phi Leh.

Another place I feel attracted to because of a film is Alaska. I think I was 10-years old when I saw A Perfect World for the first time, I had never even heard about Alaska back then. The film is about the prisoner Butch (Kevin Costner) who kidnaps a young boy as protection and flees across Texas. At one time Butch says he’s going to Alaska and I remember I thought “if this man who just escaped from prison chooses to go to Alaska of all the places in the world, it must be a truly special and beautiful place.” Butch’s face expression and the way he spoke about it made me think “some time I will travel there too.” I got the same thought when I saw The Motorcycle Diaries in a half empty cinema in Grenoble in 2004. Since that day, South America has been on top of my list of places to visit.   

Wicker Park and The Weather Man, both shot in a wintry Chicago, make me want to travel to “the windy city”. In Her Shoes and Rocky almost make me fall in love with Philadelphia. After The Big Blue I knew I had to see Amorgos in Greece, Sicily in Italy and Corsica in France. Man on Fire, Amores perros and Babel make me curious about Mexico. Blue Crush captures the surf culture on Hawaii in such a great way I want to experience it by myself. After Lost in Translation I longed for Tokyo, Park Hyatt Tokyo and Kyoto. And City of Angels has so many beautiful shots of the L.A skyline I just know I have to see it one day.

8 Mile make me think of the day when we tried to get out of Detroit and drove the wrong way on 8 mile. After seeing Imagine Me & You, Notting Hill and Match Point I love London even more, especially Primrose Hill and Portobello Road. When I miss Paris I watch Amelie or Before Sunset, if I miss Vienna I see Before Sunrise.

I often find myself missing New York. Luckily it’s one of the most popular places to shoot a movie, if I wanted to I wouldn’t have to go a day without seeing this great city. Miracle on 34^th Street, West Side Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Godfather, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York, New York, Saturday Night Fever, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hair, Fame, Wall Street, Big, Cocktail, Working Girl, When Harry Met Sally, Carlito’s Way, Sleepless in Seattle, As Good as it Gets, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, You’ve Got Mail, Rent, Sidewalks of New York, Vanilla Sky, Autumn in New York, Heights, Stepmom, Analyze This, Analyze That, Big Daddy, Eyes Wide Shut, The Thomas Crown Affair, New York Waiting, The Devil Wears Prada, Coyote Ugly, Maid in Manhattan, Shortbus, Anything Else, The Family Man, Finding Forrester, Kate & Leopold, Kissing Jessica Stein, Serendipity, 25^th Hour, Uptown Girls, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, When Will I Be Loved, 13 Going on 30, Alfie, Little Black Book, Hitch, In Good Company, The Interpreter, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Prime, 16 Blocks, Just My Luck, The Nanny Diaries and Rush Hour 3 are some films shot in New York City. 

I can’t deny that traveling through movies is enjoyable, but the real deal is without a doubt better.