The Book Thief (2013) – Filming Locations
Drama · Directed by Brian Percival · Starring Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse
While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
Where was The Book Thief filmed?
- Berlin, Germany, Berlin – Opening sequences showing Nazi Germany and the book thief Liesel's arrival in Berlin. Berlin's historical streets and architecture were used to establish the Nazi-era German setting, though much of the film was shot elsewhere to recreate the period authentically
- Vilnius, Lithuania, Vilnius – Primary filming location for the fictional German town of Molching, including street scenes and the exterior of Liesel's home. Vilnius's preserved medieval architecture and narrow streets provided an authentic Eastern European backdrop that successfully doubled for Nazi-era Germany
- Prague, Czech Republic, Prague – Additional period streets and German town scenes, including scenes of wartime activity and Liesel's journey through the town. Prague's well-preserved historic architecture and cobblestone streets were used alongside Vilnius to create the convincing wartime German village setting
- Vienna, Austria, Vienna – Scenes depicting Nazi Germany and wartime sequences. Vienna's architecture was utilized for scenes establishing the broader Nazi German context and wartime atmosphere
- Hungary, Budapest – Additional filming locations for period-accurate wartime sequences. Eastern European filming locations provided authenticity for the Nazi-era German setting and wartime narrative