Maps of Movies

Sophie's Choice (1982)

Where Sophie's Choice says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Poland could not be filmed, so Zagreb played the camps; the pink Brooklyn house was painted just for the film

Scenes and places

The pink boarding house in Brooklyn (1947)

Stingo arrives at a pink Brooklyn boarding house hoping to finish his first novel. Through the floor he hears Sophie and Nathan's loud, passionate life, and he is soon drawn into their world.

Set in Pink boarding house, Brooklyn — Stingo's new home, shared with Sophie and Nathan.

A Victorian house in Flatbush, painted pink to match the novel.

The day at the seaside amusement park

Sophie, Nathan and Stingo spend a bright day by the sea, the closest the three get to carefree. The scene is a break before the story turns darker.

Set in Seaside amusement park, New York — A day out by the sea for the trio.

Two seaside amusement areas are named by the sources, one in Queens and one in Brooklyn.

Filmed at Rockaway Playland, Queens — AFI lists Rockaway Playland among the filming locations; which scene was shot there is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Coney Island, Brooklyn — Named by the French Wikipedia as a Brooklyn location; no scene given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Sophie's Poland before the camp

Sophie tells Stingo about her husband, her father and the Polish resistance lover she had during the war. Each story reveals a little more of what she is hiding.

Set in Occupied Poland (flashback) — Sophie recalls life under the German occupation.

Production mostly stayed in New York, then moved to Yugoslavia for the flashbacks.

Filmed at Kamenita vrata, Zagreb — The French Wikipedia names the Kamenita street area of Zagreb among the flashback locations; the matching scene is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Samobor, Croatia — Also named by the French Wikipedia for the flashbacks; the matching scene is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Arrival at Auschwitz

Sophie arrives at Auschwitz with her children and is put to work as the commandant's secretary. Her language skills keep her alive, and they put her close to the man in charge.

Set in Auschwitz, Poland — The camp where Sophie is sent with her children. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The real camp is in southern Poland.

Filmed at Zagreb, Yugoslavia (Jadran Film) — About two and a half weeks of flashbacks were shot in Zagreb with Jadran Film; the exact sites are not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Prospect Park, Brooklyn — Park outing (scene not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Brooklyn Bridge — Brooklyn Bridge scene (not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Brooklyn Heights Promenade — Promenade scene (not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Sophie — A Polish immigrant in Brooklyn who carries a dark secret from her wartime past.
• Stingo — A young Southern writer who moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to write his first novel.
• Nathan — Sophie's volatile lover, brilliant and prone to violent mood swings.