Where was French Lover shot? Revisiting key filming locations of the Netflix romantic drama

Unlike its name, Netflix's recent film French Lover was panned by critics, and rather harshly, though fans are adoring it, for better or worse. It stars Omar Sy and Sara Giraudeau in the main roles as Abel and Camara, who fall in love. According to the film's synopsis (via IMDb):

"When a jaded actor meets a down-on-her-luck waitress in Paris, their unexpected love story begins but will it survive the glare of the spotlight?"

The strong performances of the leads help sustain viewer interest despite the story’s shortcomings. Many are calling it a film trying to emulate the Richard Gere and Julia Roberts-led 1990 rom-com hit Pretty Woman.

Despite the fact that the film doesn't sit well with many, it still has its own charm, not just because of the leads, but because of where it was shot: the Paris Metropolitan Region. It was primarily filmed there. So, let's explore the areas chosen for shooting French Lover.

French Lover filming locations

Salle Favart

Salle Favart, located on Place Boïeldieu, was used as one of the filming locations. It was designed by French architect Louis Bernier, and it remains his main work. Currently, it is owned by an opera company in Paris called Opéra-Comique and also serves as its home. Interestingly, two other theaters were built on the same site with the same name, making this the third.

Some notable premieres held here include Louise by Charpentier, Pelléas et Mélisande by Debussy, L’heure espagnole by Ravel, and Le pauvre matelot by Milhaud.

Château de Chantilly

Another beautiful location used for French Lover is Château de Chantilly, a historic French château that houses several fine pieces of art. The château has a vast history and has been restored multiple times.

Beyond this film, it is most famously featured in the Roger Moore-led Bond film A View to a Kill (1985) and, more recently, in the Netflix film The Gray Man (2022), starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.

Boulevard Malesherbes

This central Paris location is home to notable landmarks including The Church of St. Augustine, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Lycée Carnot, and more. For French Lover, the area was used for some exterior scenes.

Le Grand Rex

Since the movie is about a film star, using Le Grand Rex as a filming location was a natural choice. It is a popular cinema and concert venue with seven halls, each with seating ranging from 100 to 2,702.

Meudon

The final location featured in French Lover is the French commune of Meudon. It is particularly noteworthy because it is built on the Seine River's hills and valleys.