The narrow streets of the Old City and the European-style architecture of Baku have often been chosen by directors of both Soviet and modern films. Looking at frames from these iconic movies, many viewers may not immediately recognize Baku. Here’s a look at the city’s locations that became filming spots for some of the most famous film projects.
“Amphibian Man”, 1961
Those who have never been to Baku may not know that this film was shot right here. Fountain Square, Nizami Street, and the alleyways of the Old City were carefully disguised as a Western city.
“The Diamond Arm”, 1969
Many scenes from this cult Soviet film were filmed in Baku. One location became especially famous — a spot in the Old City on Kiçik Qala Street, where Yuri Nikulin’s character slipped and exclaimed the well-known line “Damn it!” Today, this place is easy to find thanks to a café and souvenir shop named “Damn It!”.
“Tehran 43”, 1981
Baku also served as a filming location for this famous Soviet drama. Many scenes from Tehran 43 were shot in the streets of the Old City — near the Maiden Tower and the Juma Mosque.
“The World Is Not Enough”, 1999
This installment of the James Bond saga was filmed in several countries, including Azerbaijan. The famous BMW Z8 chase scene was shot among the oil rigs in the Bibi-Heybat area of Baku.
“Drongo”, 2002
The detective series based on the works of Chingiz Abdullayev was also filmed on the streets of Baku. Scenes from the show perfectly capture the atmosphere of the city in the early 2000s.
“Ali and Nino”, 2016
This UK-Azerbaijan co-production about the timeless love story between Azerbaijani Ali and Georgian Nino was filmed in the streets of Baku’s Old City. Some scenes were also shot in regions such as Gobustan and Khinalig.
