Movies to "Travel" for When You Can't

Written by Riana Buchman

Though COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifting around the country, most people aren’t rushing back to reserve plane tickets or hopping on the nearest train for a quick getaway. For many people, travelling nowadays means moving out of comfortable accommodations and back into childhood bedrooms, or merely walking around the block and noticing something different from the day before. As a result, many of us have left places we cherish and now dearly miss. Unfortunately for some, this also means leaving study abroad opportunities and places which were just starting to feel familiar. However, fear not. While most of us are stuck inside, that also translates into ample screen time, which could be used as an advantage when missing far away homes. It may be strange, but I like to consume movies or TV shows set in places I’ve travelled before or dream of visiting. Though it’s not the conventional experience of physically exploring a city or town, many movies flaunt their locations by flashing scenes of illustrious architecture or recognizable landmarks, nearly transporting viewers into the setting. The following is a short list of movies which will, hopefully, satisfy any current wanderlust.

Graphic by Alexis Attard

Before Sunrise

Richard Linklater’s 1995 Before Sunrise follows two strangers off a train and throughout the wondrous city of Vienna, Austria for a day of adventurous pursuit. Linklater’s story is slightly autobiographical with characters Jesse Wallace, played by Ethan Hawke, and Celine, played by Julie Delpy, inspired by when he connected with a woman in Philadelphia off a split second encounter. Though the two characters develop romantic feelings for one another, they vow not to focus on the future, but instead indulge in the single night they share together. It’s only towards the end of the night that they promise to meet each other in the same location six months later with nothing but an ounce of faith. The film presents a refreshing take on dialogue as a tool, with the basis centered around Jesse and Celine’s long winding conversations, but it also lets the viewer embark on a tour around Vienna with the characters. As they wander between streets and ride along trams past a Votivkirche (Votive Church), they find themselves strolling through the gardens at Schonbrunn Palace and riding the famous cable car Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel at Prater Park. While the characters are suspended above in air, they share a stunning, contrasting view of the city. One side showcases the dancing, loud lights of the park below, and the other exhibits a quiet and calm dusk, broken up only by the occasional glimmer. Other notable locations include the Albertina balcony and Albrecht Monument, which the couple circles back to by the end of the night. Sprinkled throughout, the couple also explores several tiny shops, which includes an intimate plush cafe and sifting through a quaint record store. As the film’s pace is steady, it doesn’t distract from the awe-inspiring spots and lets viewers stay as long as they like.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) centers around the it-girl of everyone’s favorite childhood series on her international adventure in Rome, Italy during a class trip following her junior high school graduation. Not only is Hilary Duff the ultimate former Disney star, but the story is a classic rom-com teenage fantasy – taking a trip to Europe, meeting a handsome local and rising to superstardom all in the span of a short two hours. (Cut the part about being scammed by the aforementioned handsome local.) McGuire makes memorable stops along the way which have helped cement this movie in aspiring travelers’ minds, including the iconic Trevi Fountain scene as well as other notable mentions such as the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. As McGuire rides on the back of the Vespa with Paolo (pre-shaming), the audience veers through the streets of Rome beside the pair, flashing by some of the most astonishing architecture Rome has to offer. If Lizzie hadn’t ditched Ms. Ungermeyer and the rest of her classmates, would she have still ventured to these famous monuments? Probably. Still, would she have been able to frolic in Tivoli Gardens with Paolo (again pre-shaming phase) while rehearsing to fill in for Isabella, an international pop star who coincidentally shared the same features as her minus the blonde hair? Probably not. This movie has set the precedent for potential study-abroad adventures to come. For the many students this year whose study-abroad was cut short or cancelled completely, this is the movie to loop on repeat to live vicariously through Lizzie McGuire.

Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia (2008) has always convinced everyone that “You can dance / You can jive / Having the time of your life,” and the encouragement has never been more needed than right now. Mamma Mia, inspired by the original musical based off of 1970s ABBA music, focuses on bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan, who discovers one of three men could potentially be her father days before her wedding. The film is set on Kalokairi Island – really Skopelos, Greece – with “kalokairi” meaning “summer.” Donna Sheridan, played by Meryl Streep, prances around her humble abode with brilliant, blue ocean waves as a backdrop and characteristic white walled-buildings. Not only is the musical element an ultimate moodbooster, but the locations are remarkable both day and night, whether it’s following Sophie as she croons “Honey, Honey” between the trees upon discovering her mother’s diary, or the dancing which ensues in the seductive “Lay All Your Love on Me” beach number. The soundtrack ebbs and flows to allow for an engaging and lighthearted experience for all musical lovers, but does not overpower the plot. The film never wanders into more well known parts of Greece such as Athens or Santorini, but it lends insight into the village of Damouchari and the surrounding Pelion area. Kastani Beach is the familiar beach which pops up on multiple occasions throughout the film. Though the film doesn’t paint a full picture of all the wonders Greece has to offer, it grants a sneak peek into one of its breathtaking corners.