Rio On Location: Parque Lage in "The Expendables" (2010)

Parque Lage and its mansion by Fran Mateus.

At the foot of the 'Christ the Redeemer' statue are some of the most relaxing green areas in the city, where the silence is only interrupted by the sound of birds, waterfalls and horses. One of these areas is called Parque Lage. Comprising a turn of the century mansion and a well-groomed garden, the public park has been home to a love story and used as a movie set in The Expendables (2010), directed by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars in the movie.

The Expendables (Photo: Lionsgate)

In it, the park’s mansion becomes the home of the villain in the story, General Garza (David Zayas). Silvester Stallone plays the role of Barney Ross, the leader of a group of professionals specialized in gun-handling, who were hired to rid Garza and his moneyman, Monroe (Eric Roberts) from control of Vilena Island. On their first visit to the island, Ross and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) are introduced to Sandra (Gisele Itiê), a local who helps them on their venture. 

Worried with the risks Sandra might be in, Ross invites her to abandon the place, but receives “no” as an answer. Soon, what was supposed to be just another job becomes a mission to free Sandra and her people from the cruelty of Garza and Munroe. The movie casted actors who starred in action movies in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Nostalgic movie-goers who missed seeing these men in action adored it – and The Expendables became a film series.

Interior of the Parque Lage Mansion photographed by Fran Mateus.

Parque Lage was initially a sugar cane mill, back when Brazil was still a colony; it went a long way until becoming Henrique Lage’s property, a Brazilian man married to an Italian opera singer, Gabriela Besanzoni. The enamored nobleman renovated the whole mansion to suit his lover’s taste. The couple was fascinated by the art world and they were great party enthusiasts. People say that even the actor Tyrone Power visited the place in 1938, during his stay in Rio. 

The Parque Lage mansion is currently the Visual Arts School of Rio de Janeiro. It is open to the public on all week-days. The coffee house beside the pool is always filled with tourists and locals, while the park’s vegetation attracts families and art students searching for inspiration. (Rua Jardim Botânico, 414).