The real - life events of World War II in France were surely the main inspiration. There were countless acts of heroism and survival. The way the French people had to adapt to the harsh rule of the Nazis, and the small acts of defiance that grew into larger resistance efforts. Also, the experiences of families being torn apart and then reunited in different ways might have inspired the story of the sisters in 'The Nightingale'.
One of the real - life events that inspired 'The Nightingale' could be the underground activities during the Nazi occupation. There were many people who risked their lives to pass on information, smuggle supplies, or help those in hiding. The book might also have been inspired by the real stories of women who had to take on new roles, often dangerous ones, in the absence of the men who were either at war or captured. These real - life stories of struggle, hope, and survival are likely the basis for the story in the book.
It could be inspired by the real - life power struggles. In society, there are often people vying for power and wealth, just like the villains in the story who are after the Baudelaire orphans' fortune. Also, the feeling of being constantly on the run and in danger might be based on the experiences of some persecuted groups in history.
One could be the various cases of police officers being involved in organized crime or taking bribes. These types of scandals in the police force could have provided inspiration.
There are stories of people having a gut feeling before a plane crash or a major accident. For example, some passengers on doomed flights have reported feeling uneasy or having a sense of dread before the flight took off. These types of premonitions could have inspired the movie's concept.
The rumors of a strange presence in the Paris Opera House catacombs could be one. Also, there might have been stories of people with disfigurements being shunned in society at that time, which could have contributed to the creation of Erik's character.
Maybe some cases of unrequited love where one person goes to extreme lengths to get the other's attention, like moving to a new place just to be near them.
There could be numerous real - life forensic cases where an unidentified body is found with strange and unexplained injuries. Cases where the initial examination doesn't yield clear answers might have inspired it.
One possible real - life inspiration could be cases where bodies are found in strange locations with no obvious cause of death. For example, bodies found in isolated areas with no signs of trauma but still dead.
There could be old asylum stories. Asylums often have a reputation for being haunted due to the suffering and death that occurred there. The creepy atmosphere of an old asylum could be similar to the house in the movie.
Perhaps events related to the empress's rise to power. If it's about a particular historical empress, her ascension, political maneuverings, and relationships with other powerful figures could be real - life inspirations.
It might be inspired by real - life accounts of people getting lost in desolate areas and encountering strange and menacing individuals. There could have been stories of travelers who took a wrong turn and ended up in a place where they felt a sense of impending doom, which was then fictionalized and incorporated into the 'Irul' story.