The beautiful scenery of Italy is the setting for chaos, cultural clashes and strange connections in I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU. But behind the movie‘s funny and scary turns is a— real-life story that was based on the —adoption experience of directors David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano. The film takes viewers on a darkly comedic trip through Italy — and the filming locations are just as significant as the story.
Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells star as Dom and Cole, an affluent gay couple celebrating their 10th anniversary with a romantic vacation in Italy. When they receive a call from a birth mother (played by Amanda Seyfried) offering them the chance to adopt her baby, their trip takes a wild turn. The combination of unfamiliar language, twisted directions, local hospitality, and escalating mishaps transforms their adventure into a nightmarish, yet oddly heartwarming, odyssey.
But where exactly was I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU filmed? Let’s explore the atmospheric and scenic Italian locations where the film was brought to life.
ROME, LAZIO – THE HEART OF DOM AND COLE’S VACATION
Rome, a busy city, is where the movie starts, where Dom and Cole are on their honeymoon. Rome, a busy city, is where the movie starts, where Dom and Cole are on their honeymoon. RThe capital of Italy, Rome provides a sharp contrast between modern luxury and centuries-old history. From ancient ruins to vibrant piazzas and narrow cobbled streets, Rome reflects the couple’s excitement and privilege — while also serving as a starting point for their unraveling journey.
Rome’s beauty and chaos play off of the couple’s relationship. There is where they get the call from Candace—the birth mother, that changes their lives. The tension is set by the setting a beautiful vacation on the verge of change.
The production spent a few weeks in and around Rome, filming both famous places and everyday life in Italy. The filmmakers worked with a crew that was mostly Italian, which made the process very collaborative and real.
THE RURAL COUNTRYSIDE OF ORVIETO – LOST IN TRANSLATION
he countryside near Orvieto, a beautiful hill town in Umbria known for its medieval charm and sprawling vineyards, is one of the most beautiful and important places in the movie. The film’s key horror-comedy sequences unfold here — including when the couple gets hopelessly lost trying to find a secluded farm restaurant for their anniversary dinner.
In the film, directions to the restaurant are vague, the weather turns, and their rental car becomes stuck in the mud — all shot against the backdrop of real, rolling Italian farmland. The tension builds as they encounter a shotgun-wielding farmer, a moment of cultural misinterpretation that turns into unexpected kindness.
The scenes in the country were filmed just outside of Rome on farmlands that gave the story the perfect look of being out in the middle of nowhere. According to the directors, most of these scenes were shot between 7 PM and 5 AM, embracing the eerie quiet and natural beauty of nighttime in the Italian countryside.
THE FARM RESTAURANT – A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
At the center of the film’s climax is a farm-to-table restaurant, temporarily reopened for the couple by an enthusiastic cook named Zia Luciana. This setting, likely inspired by authentic Italian agriturismo-style eateries, was filmed at a real rural property transformed for production.
Scenes inside the restaurant, with candlelight, home-cooked meals, and misunderstandings about other cultures, were filmed with an Italian crew and set design. The food, ambience, and even uncomfortable surprises (like horse sausage pizza for Cole) reflect a deep dive into regional traditions.
PRODUCTION TIMELINE
The movie I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU was filmed from March 16, 2023, to May 14, 2023, with some extra days of filming going on until November 20, 2023. Most of the filming took place in and around Rome, Lazio. Both urban and rural settings were used to show how Dom and Cole’s modern life contrasts with Italy’s old-world charm and unpredictable nature.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU (2025) TRAILER
FINAL THOUGHTS
The filmmakers, inspired by their own frantic trip through Italy while preparing for fatherhood, infused the filming locations with emotional significance and visual richness. From Rome’s grandeur to the haunting beauty of rural Umbria, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU uses its Italian settings not just as a backdrop — but as a vital character in the couple’s chaotic journey.
Each location adds layers to the story: beauty, confusion, humor, and heart. For anyone curious about how geography can shape a film’s soul, this dark comedy is a perfect example.
Keep visiting netfilming.com for more updates, location features, and behind-the-scenes stories from I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU and other upcoming films.
