Film: By the Sea (2015)

Jolie and Pitt on Gozo

"By the Sea" (2015) is a drama directed, written by, and starring Angelina Jolie, with Brad Pitt as co-lead. The film tells the story of an American couple in crisis who arrive for a holiday at a fictitious Mediterranean town in the 1970s. Gozo stood in for the French Riviera, with the island's landscapes playing a central role in the film.

Gozo filming locations

The film was shot at several Gozo locations: Mgarr Harbour, where the couple arrives by boat; Xlendi Bay as the seaside resort; and the picturesque stone houses and alleyways of Gozitan villages. The hotel in the film is a real building in Xlendi, dressed for the production. The sea, cliffs, and light of Gozo gave the film its extraordinary atmosphere.

Gozo as a film set

For Gozo, the film held special significance: the small island hosted a Hollywood superstar couple for several weeks, attracting global media attention. The filming locations can still be visited today, though the set decorations have been removed.

Practical tip: Walk around Mgarr Harbour and Xlendi to see the filming locations. Compare frames from the film with reality — Gozo looks just as beautiful in person as on screen.