Cold war films shot in Budapest

This November marked 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, one of the decisive events that eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet bloc. To mark the anniversary, we’re looking at two great films anchored in this era that were (at least partly) filmed in Budapest.  

For all of you too young to remember: the Cold War was a period of fluctuating tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union that encompassed psychological political tactics, the nuclear weapons arms race, cat and mouse spy games and proxy wars that took place from the end of the Second World War until the Soviet Union (USSR) was dissolved in 1991.

Ronald Reagan, US President back during the 80s, famously termed the Soviet Union the “Evil Empire” in 1983 at the height of Cold War tensions between the Soviets and the Western powers.

It’s an era that has carved out its own film genre.

Like any period of history fraught with conflict, the Cold War as subject material created some exceptional cinema. Particular favourites set during the 1970s and 1980s that stand out in my mind are films like Gorky Park (1983) and The Hunt for Red October (1990), or more recently The Lives of Others (2006).

Hungary, tucked behind the iron curtain as a Soviet satellite state for over forty years, is a country steeped in Cold War history. For this reason, it’s been a logical filming destination for some international productions when depicting stories set in this era.

So, let’s have a look at two notable films set against the backdrop of this fascinating period.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Directed by David Leitch and starring Charlize Theron, Atomic Blonde is a frenetic, action-packed thriller set in the final days of the Cold War. A visual homage to the unabashed audacity of 80s style, the film was shot primarily in Budapest thanks to the city’s ability to portray East and West Berlin, Paris and London. The story centres on an MI6 agent tasked with recovering a list of double agents in a divided Berlin before it falls into the wrong hands.

Locations filmed around Budapest: several street locations, 19th century apartment buildings, New York Café, The State Opera House and the now defunct Terminal 1 of Liszt Ferenc International Airport.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)

What is it with Gary Oldman playing the quintessential Brit spy? Way before Slow Horses, Gary Oldman starred in this film that was based on John le Carré's classic novel, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Oldman plays George Smiley, a retired MI6 agent determined to uncover a Soviet mole within the organization. While much of the filming took place in the UK, some notable scenes were filmed in Budapest–a good choice considering the events that instigate the plot of the film do indeed take place in… Budapest.  

Filming in Budapest took place at the Western Railway Station and Paris Courtyard.

Sources & further reading:

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