"Ismael": The Endearing Journey of a Boy Along the Costa Brava

As if stitched along the edge of the Costa Brava, the outdoor locations of the film "Ismael," directed by Argentine filmmaker Marcelo Piñeyro and featuring actors Mario Casas, Belén Rueda, Juan Diego Botto, Ella Kweku, and child actor Larsson do Amaral, are laid out. In the coastal town, painted in white and blue, of Sitges, the historic district stretches around the tall palm tree that stands in the town hall square. It forms an urban set on the promontory of Punta, which houses the Maricel Palace and the churches of San Bartolomé, Santa Tecla, La Fragata, and the steps of the breakwater. In this heart of the town, down the narrow and winding Carrer de l'Aigua, a grandmother watches over her grandson's journey in search of his lost father. The scenes are sheltered by the rugged Garraf coastline, the promenade of the Ribera, or the beach of San Sebastián.

Although the film's script does not designate a specific town as the residence of the wayward father, the shooting locates his home in the village of Palamós, which American writer Truman Capote praised for its waters, comparing them to the blue and clarity of a mermaid's eyes. The house is situated along the coastline of this medieval town, where steep cliffs coexist with delicate sandy beaches, such as Castell, which is considered the most pristine of the Costa Brava. The San Sebastián Lighthouse, from which the town of Llafranc can be seen, witnessed the scenes filmed on the elegant urban waterfront where the boy Ismael enjoys the swings. In the background, the rocky terrain of d'en Blanc withstands the strong winds of that right end of the bay, known as garbí.

Surely, the serenity that envelops the atmosphere of Cala Boadella, in the municipality of Lloret de Mar, is the inspiration that led the film crew to this small beach with pristine sand, adorned by the Santa Clotilde gardens, a lookout that soothes the gaze of visitors.