Movies

Why Amandaland’s Filming on My Street Left Me Spitting Out My Wine!

BBG News

Last September, some movie scenes were shot on the street where I reside in Highbury, North London. It’s not uncommon for this to happen due to two main factors. The primary reason is practical: the street I live on has a unique one-way system that keeps traffic minimal, making it an excellent location for peaceful, undisturbed filming as few vehicles pass through.

1: In my circle, there are many individuals similar to me – those who welcome media teams into their homes for a little extra money or the opportunity to display their high-end kitchen islands before selling their properties. (This version maintains the original’s tone and meaning while using slightly different phrasing.)

On our street, ITV shot some of their brief channel advertisement films; nearby, Rosamund Pike filmed a Hollywood movie, making it hard for me to go to the store without running into Paul Mescal exercising, showcasing his muscular physique from Gladiator II.

When a film crew, complete with catering gazebos, portable toilets, and men carrying gaffer tape, took over our street, I didn’t show any surprise. While walking my dog, a considerate runner asked me to wait for a moment so as not to disrupt the scene being shot. When I inquired about the show, he was reluctant to share but since he was causing an inconvenience, he revealed it was a spin-off of Motherland called Amandaland. At that point, I glanced up from my cockapoo and recognized actresses Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley preparing for their scene.

Eagerly rushing home to share the news with my 16-year-old daughter Celia, who was ecstatically thrilled, I exclaimed, “You’re joking me! In our street!?” Motherland is one of her favorite shows, and the character Amanda, as many fans would agree, is simply the best. It was astonishing to learn that they had selected our picturesque, tree-lined Islington neighborhood as their backdrop. It seemed the writers decided it was necessary for Amanda to depart from her posh Chiswick home in west London and move northward to a location boasting superior restaurants, upscale delis, and undeniably more sophisticated residents. This area has long been a preferred choice among barristers (it’s within walking distance of the Inns of Court), where writers mingle with TV directors, and you frequently run into Nigel Slater at the local butcher.

Instead of hurrying back to gawk at the filming, we saw something unusual. It appeared that the film production team had carelessly abandoned a overturned shopping cart on the sidewalk and trash was scattered outside Amanda’s apartment. What was happening there?

Later on, I noticed that the house they selected for Amanda’s new residence was indeed among the less well-maintained houses on the street. Granted, it was still quite lovely and likely worth the £1.6 million that an ordinary house in the N5 Highbury postal area typically costs, but it could definitely benefit from a fresh coat of paint.

After going through a divorce, Amanda needed to move to a smaller place in South Harlesden, which is sometimes referred to as SoHa by real estate agents. This means that the character, who was previously quite wealthy and influential, has faced financial struggles. The show’s location scouts thought our neighborhood, after some adjustments for filming, could convincingly portray the neighborhood near Wormwood Prison, which suggests a more run-down or less desirable area.

I’m sorry for the intrusion, but it seems you’ve made a rather disparaging remark about Highbury, a part of London that’s known for its expensive cinnamon rolls and cortados, even more so than Notting Hill. In essence, your comment appears to be quite unfair.

I was taken aback when, in the initial episode, it was revealed that Amanda’s mother, portrayed by Joanna Lumley, arrived carrying a “small takeaway box from Waitrose” since Amanda supposedly shops at a Tesco Metro instead. Yet, as residents of Highbury know, our main grocery store is indeed Waitrose. Some of us, however, splurge on the costly Yield delicatessen down the road, which offers biodynamic wines and delectable Brindisa Navarrico Chickpeas in jars. Alternatively, we might walk to Ottolenghi, situated on Upper street, for a quick shopping trip.

In a different, more casual way of saying it: Is our place as posh as Chelsea’s? Not at all. Does real estate here sell for the same prices as Belgravia? Far from it. But this part of London is still one of the most charming areas – despite what Amandaland might imply.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but be intrigued by the clever misdirection surrounding the storyline. Yet, it’s the brilliantly sharp wit that truly shines through, even amidst Amanda’s turbulent past with a messy divorce and a collapse of circumstances. Despite all this, she continues to make me laugh out loud!

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2025-02-09 10:34

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