Blood & Gold: Where Was Netflix's War Drama Filmed And Why Is That So Important?
Out of all the 2023 Netflix movies that should be on people's must-watch lists, the streamer's World War II feature "Blood & Gold" remains a strong candidate to add its name to the ranks. With this in mind, some people may be interested to know where the action-packed thrill ride was filmed, as well as why it was of the utmost importance to have the production take place in that particular location.
The story for "Blood & Gold" follows a German deserter named Heinrich (Robert Masser) and a farmer named Elsa (Marie Hacke), who were thrust into a battle with Nazis looking for hidden gold in the spring of 1945. The war-torn endeavor culminating with an epic standoff against the SS troops was filmed in the Czech Republic. The city of Prague was the focal point with production locations, including several of the surrounding areas. According to Praguereporter.com, some of the sites seen in the motion picture included castles located at Točník and a town called Křivoklát, which resides near the Údolí nature trail, which was also used in the making of the war flick. But the production wasn't just limited to these spots. Areas in the Czech Republic's Central Bohemian Region were utilized with cameras rolling in places like Nižbor and Králův Dvůr. In addition, the Ústí nad Labem Region was also visited by the "Blood & Gore" crew, specifically in the town of Výsluní.
Prague was a fitting choice for a movie that involves an assault against Nazis in the final days of the war, mostly because a similar event took place there that has since been revered as a symbol of Czech resistance in World War II.
Blood & Gore's filming roots have history
It's no secret that Prague has been the site of film productions for movies such as "Blood Red Sky," "All Quiet on the Western Front," and "Extraction." But when it comes to "Blood & Gold," a work of historical fiction about a last stand against the Nazis towards the end of the war, the shooting location became much more significant because of the real-life event known as "The Prague Uprising of 1945."
On May 5, 1945, the uprising began when Czech police officers assaulted SS troops in a radio station, leading broadcasters to call upon citizens to rise up against their Nazi oppressors. By the end of the day, resistance members had taken back most of the city. The following day, the Nazis hit hard against the fortified town by bombing the resistance strongholds, but the people of Prague didn't give up. On May 7, even though the Nazis surrendered, the Germans laid down a brutal attack that devastated the resistance. Germany recaptured the city the next day after an air raid and infantry blitz. But on May 9, the Nazis left, and the Soviet Red Army arrived to lay waste to any remaining German soldiers, marking a victory for the people of the Czech Republic who would not go quietly into the night.
The ordeal was a testament to the heroism and bravery of the people of the Czech Republic, and while it may not go down as the best World War II movie of all time, the core message of "Blood & Gore" reflects the resilient story of those that chose not to submit to evil.