Wes Anderson’s films are best known for their eccentric characters and rigorously whimsical tone. But just as distinctively captured are their settings. Think of the colors and textures of the Indian landscapes in “The Darjeeling Limited,” for example, or the lovingly rendered Mediterranean locations in “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.”
The director’s latest offering, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” which opens March 7, tells the story of a concierge (Ralph Fiennes) between the world wars who becomes a murder suspect. The movie takes place in the invented EuropeanRepublic of Zubrowka. But because the primary location plays such a large role, finding the right spot to shoot entailed intricate scouting.
Below, in an edited conversation, is a taste of what that process entailed, and some of the places that have inspired Mr. Anderson.
