ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between film, other media, and place, proposing a framework that combines geographic understanding with film studies. It distinguishes three types of space resulting from the interaction between film and place: real, mediated, and imaginary. It also highlights the mediating role of visual representations in shaping our understanding and experience of spaces and places. In particular, the chapter discusses how film engages with spaces and places, emphasising the role of imagination in visualising these representations and using real-world elements in creating imaginary spaces. The film can manipulate viewers’ perceptions of place through cinematic techniques and storytelling strategies. It can distort our sense of time, space, and geography, create specific moods and atmospheres, and influence our understanding of cultural contexts. Social practices, such as film tourism, further enhance the connection between real and fictional spaces, while geospatial technologies bridge the gap between reality and fantasy. The representation of a place in media often shapes our understanding of it, emphasising the influence of images in shaping our perception of different locations and societies.
