Netflix‘s upcoming French-language crime and mystery series UNDER A DARK SUN (“Qui sème le vent“) is set to debut on July 9, 2025. The series is created and written by Nils-Antoine Sambuc, with direction by Marie Jardillier and Edouard Salier.
Produced by Qui sème le vent and UGC Fiction, this gripping tale centers on Alba, played by Ava Baya, a young mother fleeing her past who finds work at a flower farm in southern France. When the farm’s patriarch — who turns out to be her biological father — is murdered, Alba becomes the prime suspect. As she uncovers hidden family secrets, her connection to the family deepens into a dark and emotional mystery.
Alongside Ava Baya, the series stars Amina Ben Ismail as Noor, with performances by Isabelle Adjani, Guillaume Gouix, and Louise Coldefy. With its deeply rooted Provencal setting, UNDER A DARK SUN relies heavily on its scenic locations to tell Alba’s haunting story. Here’s a closer look at where the series was filmed.
WHERE WAS “UNDER A DARK SUN” FILMED?
Filming for UNDER A DARK SUN began in June 2024 (subject to schedule adjustments), and took place across the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southern France, specifically in Grasse and the surrounding areas of the Alpes-Maritimes department.
GRASSE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Grasse, a town on a hill that is famous for its long history in making perfume and its rolling lavender fields—was the main place where movies were shot. Grasse provided a fitting backdrop for Alba’s work on a flower farm. The story is based on real life in Provence, with its sun-drenched fields, traditional farmhouses—and terraced land. Estates and farms near Grasse were reportedly used for the production to show the family farm that was at the center of the mystery.
ÈZE VILLAGE – ALPES-MARITIMES
The movie was filmed in and around the beautiful medieval village of Èze, which is on a hilltop commune between Nice and Monaco. People love Èze because it has beautiful stone buildings, narrow cobblestone paths—and lookout points with views of the Côte d’Azur.
The Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, with its beautiful clock tower, and the ruins of the Château d’Èze, set in lush gardens, are two of the most famous places in Èze. The layout of the village, its red-tiled roofs, and its dramatic views were all great visual elements that added to the story’s tension and beauty.
VILLA LE TRIDENT (LIKELY LOCATION)
Though not officially confirmed, one of the villas seen in behind-the-scenes glimpses appears to be Villa Le Trident, a Provençal estate likely located near Grasse or Èze. The villa’s architecture — with colorful shutters and Mediterranean design — reflects typical heritage estates in the Alpes-Maritimes region. Given the plot’s themes involving family inheritance and secrets, such an estate fits naturally within the storyline’s context.
VILLA SANTO SOSPIR – SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT
Villa Santo Sospir in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was probably used as a filming location or as an inspiration for interior scenes with old furniture, large windows, and artistic decor. Famous in the middle of the 20th century, Jean Cocteau’s murals on the walls of this old coastal villa made him famous. He stayed there in the 1950s. Villa Santo Sospir, also known as “the tattooed villa,” has a unique look that makes it a powerful setting for some scenes, adding artistic and historical depth.
THE FRENCH RIVIERA’S VISUAL IDENTITY
Southern France’s natural and architectural beauty, from terraced villages to coastal villas and lavender fields, is used to support the emotional and psychological layers of UNDER A DARK SUN’s story. The different settings, from a peaceful farm to the dramatic sea cliffs, show how Alba is struggling inside and how the mystery at the heart of the series is being solved.
For more news and updates on filming locations, stay tuned to netfilming.com.
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