Jeremy Irons in Night Train To Lisbon
Happy weekend, everyone!! FlixChatter is going on holiday!! 🇵🇹🏖️🌴😎
In fact, I’ve just finished packing as I was typing this. My hubby and I are going to Portugal for 10 days, to fulfill our bucket list we’ve had for ages! Since we both had a milestone birthday this year (the big 5-0!), this is our gift to each other. I’ve wanted to visit Portugal since I saw the movie Night Train to Lisbon over a decade ago. I even wrote a review as a guest post, but I wish I had saved it as that website has gone kaput.
I was researching on Google about films/series filmed in Portugal, and there were surprisingly few, even fewer that I’ve seen. Well, since I’ll be traveling to the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto (exactly in that order) with a couple of stops in Óbidos and perhaps Aveiro, I thought I’d do a short list of films set in Portugal. I have not seen the last two films + the Netflix series, yet, but I just might do that after I’m back from my trip!
So I’ll be taking a long-overdue blog break during my holiday… if you missed my MSPIFF 2025 coverage, here are links to some of my reviews!
Night Train to Lisbon (2013)
Night Train to Lisbon is a drama with a historical twist, where a random encounter sends a Swiss professor, Raimund Gregorius, on the adventure of a lifetime. Adapted from a popular novel by Pascal Mercier and directed by Danish filmmaker Bille August, the movie features Jeremy Irons in an understated but captivating role.
While Iron’s Raimund is the lead, Jack Huston really shines in the film, too. He’s amazing as the young doctor Amadeu, bringing a mysterious vibe, and he’s got a lovely chemistry with Mélanie Laurent. Plus, the ever-charming Charlotte Rampling is fantastic as a woman deeply tied to Amadeu, fiercely guarding their shared history.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
The sole George Lazenby Bond film also marks the only time Bond falls in love AND gets married, to Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, aka Tracy (Diana Rigg). Per Wikipedia, the pre-credit coastal and hotel scenes were filmed at Hotel Estoril Palacio in Estoril and Guincho Beach, Cascais, while Lisbon was used for the reunion of Bond and Tracy, and the ending employed a mountain road in the Arrábida National Park near Setúbal. This video shows the various locations beautifully, set to John Barry’s gorgeous score, too!
The Ninth Gate (1999)
I saw this movie ages ago, and I somehow forgot it was partly set in Portugal, in Sintra, to be exact. It stars Johnny Depp as a dealer of rare books who finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to find the last two copies of a text capable of summoning the devil. Directed by Roman Polanski, it also stars Frank Langella and Lena Olin. This trailer made it look like a fantastic horror thriller; it looks atmospheric with an eerie vibe. I don’t think the film itself is as intriguing, but still watchable.
Since I’ll be taking a day trip to Sintra, I’m including this clip set in the Biester Palace. Hopefully I can include this in my visit!
That Good Night (2021)
I wish I had seen this before my trip, as it marks the final role of the venerable John Hurt, who died in 2017. He played Ralph, a once-famous screenwriter, who is in his seventies and terminally ill. He has two final missions: to be reconciled to his son, Michael, and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his wife, Anna, as he goes “into that good night”. It also stars Charles Dance, Sofia Helin, and Max Brown. The Algarve scenery looks phenomenal, can’t wait to explore Portugal’s southernmost region!
PORTO (2017)
Somehow, this film also marks the last starring role of the lead actor; in this one it’s Anton Yelchin. Yelchin was actually the first Hollywood actor I met while I was covering the Twin Cities Film Fest. The story focuses on Jake and Mati (Lucie Lucas), two strangers in Porto who once had a fleeting bond. There’s still a mystery surrounding their shared moments, and as they sift through their memories, they revisit the intensity of a night free from the weight of time.
The trailer reminds me of Yelchin’s other romantic drama, Like Crazy, with Felicity Jones.
Glória (2021) – Netflix series
Somehow I’ve never heard of this series, but it looks intriguing! It’s Netflix’s first original production filmed in Portugal and was based on the true events of Portugal’s history during the Cold War. Glória tells the story of a divided world and a village in the middle of Ribatejo as an unlikely stage for the Cold War. João (Portuguese actor Miguel Nunes), a secret KGB agent, is sent to RARET, a secret Livre retransmission station, to compromise the CIA’s missions and find out what happened to Mia, a missing KGB agent.
Which of these movies have you seen? If you have been to Portugal, do share some travel tips if you have ’em!
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
I would’ve added Poor Things although it is a fictionalized take of Lisbon. Still, I would like to go there. I just got to remember that not all films showcase a city at their most beautiful as I remembered that I had reviewed a trilogy of films set in the Fontainhas area of Lisbon by Pedro Costa that is the definition of rough and dirty. Those are not easy films to watch.
Yeah I was gonna include Poor Things but decided not to since it was more of a fictional take. I’m gonna look up that film by Pedro Costa now, thanks!!
Costa is from Portugal though I should warn you that his films are very bleak. I hope you’re OK considering what happened in Spain & Portugal.
I see, well I’m not big on bleak films… life is already stressful enough.
Yeah, we’re more than ok, though it was a bit scary as we don’t know how long the blackout would last. We were at Lisbon airport when the power went out… it was crazy but glad we were able to rent a car and escape the big city for Algarve coast where it was much less chaotic. Fortunately power went back up the same night and things were back to normal the next day. All in all it was a fantastic trip!
OK, cause I was worried as I also have family friends who live in Spain.
Yeah it’s pretty crazy that the blackout affected several countries, even France and Finland, too! Thankfully it went back up the same day, but it created lots of havoc in the transportation sector! Hope your family in Spain are okay.
They’re fine thank goodness.
Glad to hear!!
Heart of Stone is set in Portugal and is one of the worst movies of 2023. If you haven’t seen it, don’t. In the meantime, have a great holiday!
Hey Patrick! I completely forgot that movie was set in Portugal but it was so terrible maybe it’s a good thing 😆 Portugal was amazing!! 🤩
Ahh YEss! My bestie visited Portugal two years ago and had a blast. Hope it’s the same for you and the husband. Happy 50th again and Happy tavels!🇵🇹🥂
Thank you!! Portugal was as fabulous as I had dreamed… beautiful sights, great food, friendly people, etc. We went to Algarve coast, then Lisbon and then Porto, with day trips to Sintra and Aveiro, all were amazing 🤩
I’m surprised too that not many films were shot in Portugal and I didn’t know that OHMSS shot a scene there! But then again, when I think of Portugal, foods are the only thing I know about.
Have a great trip!
Hey Ted! Yeah I think maybe they don’t have good tax rebates because the country is so beautiful and they would make fantastic film locations!
Btw we ate so many Pastel de nata while there! The Pastéis de Belém ones were the best, started all the way in 1837 made by Catholic monks https://pasteisdebelem.pt/en/history/ The lines to get in were quite long but it was so well worth the wait!!
How exciting!! I hope you have a great trip! The only film I’ve seen here is Porto and I don’t remember much from it other than being annoyed at how male-gazey the sex scenes were. Like, can we focus on Anton Yelchin for a minute please? lol
Thank you!! Oh yikes about Porto, male-gazey sex scenes don’t sound good at all… I’ll skip that one then 😬
Have an awesome trip, Flixy. Give my best to Ivan too. Bon Voyage!
Thanks Becky!! 😘
I’ve seen 2 of these movies, Night Train to Lisbon (Irons fan big time)& On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
However, it’s hard to think of this when you have gone to Portugal, and there is a major power outage!
Are you okay?
OMG!!
I hope everything is okay. Perhaps you are basking in candle light, and romance, and hopefully not stuck in an airport!
Thinking of you.
xoxoxoxoxo
Glad you’ve seen Night Train in Lisbon! Love Irons and I love him in understated roles like that.
Yeah, my hubby and I were at the airport queue ing up in customs line when the blackout happened… it was crazy but glad we were able to rent a car and escape the big city for Algarve coast where it was much less chaotic, it could’ve been worse as some people were stuck at the airport or worse, some planes were diverted from Lisbon.
That evening all restaurants were closed mear our hotel because of the power outage so we ate crackers, pringles and some Madeline cookies I brought from Trader Joe’s, not exactly the candlelit romance 😄 Fortunately power went back up the same night and it was back to normal the next day. All in all it was a fantastic trip! 🤩🇵🇹 Thanks for thinking of me… I’ll be by to visit your blog tomorrow… still jet lagged and tired today. XOXO 😘
Yay!
No rush on blog visits. Jet lag can take days.
Are you headed back to work next week?
Glad you didn’t have to live at the airport for a coupe of days. Although dinner sounds quite snackish.
Okay, Emmy season is hot and heavy. We start nominating in a month. I really need to watch Severance.
Adolescence is riding high.
Chat later!
xoxoxo
Hey Resa, I’ve been meaning to send this photo to you. I thought of you when I saw this while walking around the narrow alleys in Porto on our first day there. https://flixchatter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/portugal-woman-mural.jpg It’s so magnificent… it stopped me in my tracks and I just had to stop and snap a photo of it 😍
I love it!!!
Thank you for thinking of me, Ruth!
The way you felt is how I always feel when I find art in the street.
The feeling can be more or less intense, depending on the art and my perception, but it’s always a magic moment!
XOXOXOXO
It really was a magic moment!! Glad I was walking so I could snap a pic. There was one I saw but I was in a car so couldn’t stop to take a photo, and another when I was in a Tuk Tuk (one of their public transport) and I couldn’t find it again when we were walking 😦
Ha!That happens to me. I saw a JohnLennon head when I was on public transport. Took me 3 years to find it again.
Portugal and Spain blackouts!! Are you okay? Thought of you when I caught the news. Hopefully the country is back up and running for the remainder of your trip. What a world.
Hey! Thanks for thinking of me … yeah, I was at Lisbon airport during the blackout… it was crazy but glad we were able to rent a car and escape the big city for Algarve coast where it was much less chaotic. Fortunately power went back up the same night and things were back to normal the next day. All in all it was a fantastic trip! 🤩🇵🇹
At the airport! That’s what I guessed – i said to my dad when the news broke, my blogger friend is probably sitting on the tarmac🫠😭 Relieved you were able to rent a car and enjoy your 50th vacay🇵🇹⚡️🎉
I think it would’ve been far worse if we were still at the tarmac, so all things considered we were quite lucky. Plus the drive to the coast was smooth and scenic, if we had stayed in Lisbon it would’ve been more stressful as all the traffic lights were out. Even trying to get out of the city was quite a struggle, but we made it, thank God! 😀